Had it not been for his high school coach, Lawrence Cook says his life would be very different. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be sitting in this spot,” the 57-year-old chief school business official at Homewood-Flossmoor High School said. “I’m in a good spot.” After 24[Read More…]
Education
Founders celebrate 10 years of inspiration at the Homewood Science Center
Some amazing minds took on the challenge to create a science center in Homewood. Their work was celebrated May 28 at a Founders Day program at the Homewood Science Center marking a dream of 10 years ago that has come true. HSC board members, both past and present, gathered with[Read More…]
Retirees 2026: D161 teachers developed long friendship teaching 5th grade
Kids usually find a buddy at school. At Flossmoor Hills School, it’s two teachers who found their buddy. Fifth grade teachers Joelle Mulhearn and Denise Roberts-Smith have been classroom buddies for more than 20 years. They retire this year. Smith said their classrooms are full of 10- and 11-year-olds who[Read More…]
Retirees 2026: Shelley Peck shared the District 153 news
For 20 years, Shelley Peck has been sharing news of Homewood School District 153 and Willow, Churchill and James Hart schools. Now she’s retiring from her job as director of communications. The simple definition of Peck’s job is she writes press releases, prepares videos and handles social media accounts. But[Read More…]
Retirees 2026: Lisa Rost helps young learners in District 153 get inspired
Teaching young learners, Lisa Rost understood her job was to make learning fun. She’s done that in Homewood District 153 for 25 years. She will retire in June. Rost has created hundreds of ways to get her young charges to remember facts and figures. “I need them to be active[Read More…]
Retirees 2026: Scott McAlister — caring and supportive superintendent
As Scott McAlister ends his 34-year career in education in June, there is much applause for him and his leadership the past 13 years with Homewood School District 153. Words such as caring, empathetic, amazing, supportive are used by those who have interacted with him in his role first as[Read More…]
H-F honors programs induct new members
At the May 18 honors program at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, new members were recognized for the National Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society, French National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta math honors society. New members of the National Honor Society are: Manuella Ahouissoussi, Xavier Carter, Catherine Cece, Joshua[Read More…]
H-F earns designation as IB career-related program school
After a year of study, preparation, teacher training and site visits, Homewood-Flossmoor High School has been recognized as an International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) school by the International Baccalaureate Organization. This will enable H-F students to be credentialed in specialty programs. Superintendent Jennifer Norrell shared the news with the District[Read More…]
H-F recognizes top academic scholars
Merit scholars and Illinois State Scholars were among the hundreds of students recognized for their outstanding academic achievements during the Homewood-Flossmoor High School honors program May 18. The 2025 National Merit Program recognized Julian Grisius and Alexander Wettstein as National Merit finalists. They were in line for college scholarships. Douwe[Read More…]
Willow kindergarteners cruise into first grade with annual box car parade
At Willow School, kindergarteners once again turned cardboard into creativity on May 27 during the school’s annual box car parade, a long-running tradition that marks the end of the school year and the students’ transition into first grade. The event, described by staff as a “rite of passage,” is tied[Read More…]
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