Community Consolidated School District 15
2020-2021
Retiree Recognition June 10, 2020
Celebration
June 9, 2021
Dear Retiree:
I hope this letter finds you settling into your new normal as a retiree! What a tremendous range of emotions you must be experiencing. I know I am feeling gratitude toward the work you did on behalf of students and with colleagues in District 15. On behalf of the Board of Education, members of my Cabinet and me, I wish to extend a sincere congratulations to each of you on your retirement. Your years of service and dedication to District 15 have certainly made a positive impact on so many. Whether you have worked directly with students or provided the vital support that enables our schools and teachers to do their jobs effectively, your many contributions did not go unnoticed.
It’s astonishing to consider that the 42 of you together have tallied a combined total of 912.8 years of service—isn’t that something?! And even more amazing, 28 of you have been with the District for 20 or more years and 7 of you dedicated 30 or more years to District 15! Such longevity speaks volumes to what makes District 15 such a special place to work. While you’ll be moving on to other interesting adventures, please know that you will be missed. We hope that as you leave District 15, you feel nothing but a true sense of pride, knowing that your efforts made an important difference in a way few careers do.
Best wishes on whatever pathway retirement finds you. In the words of Dr. Seuss, “You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting … get on your way!” With gratitude,
Lisa Beth Szczupaj President, Board of Education
Laurie Heinz, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools
Community Consolidated School District 15
Board of Education Recognizes the 2020-2021 Retirees
The following is a list of Community Consolidated School District 15’s 2020-2021 class of retirees, many of whom have chosen to share stories of their careers for this momentous occasion.
Karen Aprile
Bonnie Bates
Special Education Teacher Carl Sandburg Junior High School 23 Years
Special Education Program Assistant Stuart R. Paddock Elementary School 25 Years
Karen joined the District in 1998 and served as a Special Education Teacher in the MILE Program at Carl Sandburg Junior High School. In addition to her 10 years of service at Carl Sandburg, she served at Winston Campus Elementary School for 12 years (AIME Program), Hunting Ridge Elementary School for 1 year (Transitional Kindergarten Program), and at Plum Grove Junior High School for 1 year (MILE Program). Prior to her work in District 15, Mrs. Aprile served as a Special Education Teacher for the Special Education District of Lake County at Gages Lake Laremont School (2 years) and a Special Education teacher for U-46 at Streamwood Elementary School (8 years). She and her husband, Tony, have been married for 32 years and have two sons, Dominic (28) and Anthony (26). Upon retirement, Karen is definitely coming back to visit MILE and CS! Working in MILE and at CS was the best experience in all of her career! Otherwise, she hopes to travel, enjoy time with her family and sleep in!
Bonnie joined the District in 1996 and served as a Special Education Program Assistant at Stuart R. Paddock Elementary School.
Nicholas Brescia Bus Driver Transportation Department 11 Years
Nicholas joined District 15 in 2009 and served as a Bus Driver with the Transportation Department.
Paul Budin
Coordinator of Social Work Services/ School Social Worker Jane Addams Elementary School and Carl Sandburg Junior High School 25 years
Mary Baranowski Program Assistant Gray M. Sanborn Elementary School 14 Years
Paul joined District 15 in 1996 and served as both a Social Worker at Jane Addams Elementary School and as the Social Work Coordinator for the District. Mr. Budin holds his MSW, LCSW, and an Advanced CertificateEducational Administration. He is a member of the International Association of Schools of Social Work, the School Social Work Association of America, and the National Association of Social Workers. Paul and
Mary joined District 15 in 2007 and served as a Program Assistant at Gray M. Sanborn Elementary School.
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his wife, Ann, have a daughter, Clare, a son, Sean, and a dog, Lemon. Upon retirement ... it’s still in the works!
Domingo D’Souza Special Education Program Assistant John G. Conyers Learning Academy 18.5 Years
Colleen Butterly Building Secretary Walter R. Sundling Junior High School 10 Years
Domingo joined District 15 first in 2001 and served as a Special Education Program Assistant at John G. Conyers Learning Academy. He served in the District from 2001-2006, and then rejoined District 15 in 2007. Upon retirement, Mr. D’Souza plans to substitute teach!
Colleen joined District 15 in 2011 and served as the Building Secretary at Walter R. Sundling High School. She spent her entire career in the District at Sundling, first as clerical assistant then promoted to Building Secretary. Mrs. Butterly was awarded the Traveling Paladin twice (an award given to staff by staff). She wants to thank Jason Dietz and the entire staff at WRS for allowing her to be a part of such a great team. “Mr. Dietz is a steadfast boss who genuinely cares about the students and staff. I consider him one of my favorite bosses, as well as a mentor, and a friend.” Colleen and her husband have four children and ten grandchildren who all live within 35 minutes of Palatine! Upon retirement, Colleen plans to be productive!
Esther D’Souza Special Education Program Assistant John G. Conyers Learning Academy 10 Years, 8 Months
T homas Dembinski
Esther joined District 15 in 2010 and served as a Special Education Program Assistant at John G. Conyers Learning Academy. Upon retirement, Mrs. D’Souza plans to become a substitute teacher!
Thomas joined District 15 in 1998 and served as a Delivery Driver at School Nutrition Services.
Grace Ford
Delivery Driver School Nutrition Services 23 Years
Program Assistant Gray M. Sanborn Elementary School 22.5 Years
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Grace joined District 15 and served as a Program Assistant at Gray M. Sanborn Elementary School.
Alan Fosz
Debbie H. Kantro
Bus Driver Transportation Department 11 Years
Special Education Program Assistant, LEAP Program Kimball Hill Elementary School 21.5 Years
Alan joined District 15 in 2009 and served as a Bus Driver with the Transportation Department.
Debbie joined the District in 1999 and served as Special Education Program Assistant, LEAP Program at Kimball Hill Elementary School. She began her work in District 15 at Lincoln School, transferring to Kimball Hill in 2007 for the remainder of her career. Prior to joining the District, Mrs. Kantro served as an Office Manager for a law firm in Chicago. Debbie served as a representative to the Educational Support Personnel Association as well as a member of the Social Committee. Upon retirement, she plans to take more cruises, travel to Europe, and take road trips all over the United States!
Sharman Galezewski Music Teacher Marion Jordan and Jane Addams Elementary Schools 31 Years
Sharman joined District 15 in 1990 and served as a Music Teacher at Jane Addams Elementary School. Prior to joining the staff at Marion Jordan, she served as a Music Teacher at Jane Addams Elementary School for 30 years. Ms. Galezewski is a 2002 and 2012 National Board Certified Teacher. She has been awarded a number of grants over the last 11 years, including National Endowment for the Arts Grants (2010, 2012, 2014), a National Education Association Foundation Grant (2012), and two Gilder Lehrman Grants (2011, 2014).
Vladimir Kapustin Bus Driver Transportation Department 20 Years
Vladimir joined District 15 in 2001 and served as a Bus Driver with the Transportation Department.
Joaquin Gongora
Jan Keeley
Special Education Teacher Carl Sandburg Junior High School 23 Years
Custodian Carl Sandburg Junior High School 17 Years, 7 Months
Joaquin joined District 15 in 1998 and served as a Special Education Teacher at Carl Sandburg Junior High School.
Jan joined the District in 2003 and served as a custodian at Carl Sandburg Junior High School. 3
Mercedes Knudsen
Donna Krupa
Mercedes joined District 15 in 1998 and served as a First Grade Bilingual Teacher at Stuart R. Paddock Elementary School. She also served as a Second Grade Bilingual Teacher in the District. Prior to joining District 15, Mrs. Knudsen taught at School District U-46 from 1991-1998. Mrs. Knudsen and her husband have two children. Upon retirement, they plan to travel the world!
Donna joined District 15 in 2001 and served as a Special Education Program Assistant at Marion Jordan Elementary School. She began her District 15 career at Virginia Lake (2001‑02) and Jane Addams (2002-07) before joining the staff of Marion Jordan in 2007. Upon retirement, Ms. Krupa plans on traveling, gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Mike Knudsen
Van Le
Mike joined the District in 1999 and served as a Bilingual Resource Teacher at Lake Louise Elementary School. He served as a Fifth Grade Bilingual Self-Contained for his two years then as a Fourth-Sixth Grade Bilingual Resource Teacher. He is a National Board Certified Teacher. Mr. Knudsen has also been an Adjunct Faculty and Graphic Designer in Marketing at Harper College. Mr. Knudsen and his wife, Mercedes, have two children, Elena and Daniel. Upon retirement, Mike plans to travel, learn to play the flamenco guitar well, and promote his father’s artwork, John A. Knudsen.
Van joined District 15 in 1988 and served as the Custodial Supervisor with the Facilities and Operations Department.
First-Grade Bilingual Teacher Stuart R. Paddock Elementary School 23 Years
Special Education Program Assistant Marion Jordan Elementary School 20 Years
Bilingual Resource Teacher Lake Louise Elementary School 22 Years
Custodial Supervisor Facilities and Operations Department 32.5 Years
T homas Leonteos Nutrition Services Driver Nutrition Services Department 11.5 Years
Thomas joined the District in 2009 and served as a Nutrition Services Driver with the Nutrition Services Department. 4
Bonnie Levecke
Karen McElman
Special Education Program Assistant Hunting Ridge Elementary School 15 Years
Second Grade Teacher Lincoln Elementary School 32.5 Years
Karen joined District 15 in 1988 and served as a Second Grade Teacher at Lincoln Elementary School. She began her career as a substitute teacher in the District, also serving as a longterm substitute teacher in First Grade at Kimball Hill Elementary School. Mrs. McElman served in different roles at Lincoln, Fourth Grade (1 year), Sixth Grade (12 years), with the remainder of her career in Second Grade.
Bonnie joined District 15 in 2005 and served as a Special Education Program Assistant at Hunting Ridge Elementary School.
Brenda Lyon
Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Winston Campus Elementary School 25 Years
Leslie Michaels Art Teacher Pleasant Hill Elementary School 21 Years
Brenda joined the District in 1996 and served as a Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing at Winston Campus Elementary School.
Leslie joined the District in 2000 and served as an Art Teacher at Pleasant Hill Elementary School. Prior to joining the District, she served as a Quality Control Technician at Abbott Laboratories and as a freelance artist. Mrs. Michaels was a member of both the Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA) and the National Art Education Association (NAEA). She is married, and has 4 children and 4 grandchildren. Upon retirement, Leslie plans to scuba, travel, do volunteer work, learn to make stained glass, and spend time with her family.
Robert McCarthy Bus Driver Transportation Department 14 Years
Robert joined District 15 in 2007 and served as a Bus Driver with the Transportation Department.
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Barbara Moeller
Laura Neikrug
Bus Driver Transportation Department 24 Years
Occupational Therapist Winston Campus Elementary and Junior High Schools 12 Years
Barbara joined District 15 in 1997 and served as a Bus Driver with the Transportation Department.
Laura joined the District in 2008 and served as an Occupational Therapist at Winston Campus Elementary and Junior High Schools.
Nohra Morrison ESL/Bilingual Resource Teacher John G. Conyers Learning Academy 32 Years
Dianne Neumann Kindergarten Teacher Frank C. Whiteley Elementary School 33 Years
Nohra joined the District in 1989 and served as a ESL/ Bilingual Resource Teacher at John G. Conyers Learning Academy. In her career in District 15, she has also served as a Program Assistant, First Grade Bilingual Teacher, Special Education Resource Teacher, Special Education Teacher, First Grade Bilingual Teacher, Reading Specialist, ESL/ Bilingual Resource Teacher, as well as an in-patient tutor. Mrs. Morrison has been married for 35 years and has three children. Upon retirement, Nohra plans to relax, enjoy the outdoors, explore Florida beaches, and relocate.
Dianne joined the District in 1988 and served as a Kindergarten Teacher at Frank C. Whiteley Elementary School. She began her District 15 career as a Second Grade Teacher at both Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (1988-89) and Frank C. Whiteley (1989-99), then moved to her role as Kindergarten Teacher for the remainder of her career. Prior to her service to District 15, Mrs. Neumann taught Third Grade in the Nashville Public School System (1986-1988). She holds her Master’s Degree from Northern Illinois University in School Administration and Supervision. Upon retirement, Dianne looks forward to having the time to devote to her family and friends, the many new projects that she has planned and to simply enjoy her next new adventures.
Stella Munoz Head Custodian Plum Grove Junior High School 19.5 Years
Stella joined District 15 in 2001 and served as the Head Custodian at Plum Grove Junior High School. 6
Angela Novak
Tricia Prebil
Angela joined the District in 2002 and served as a School Nurse at Pleasant Hill Elementary School.
Tricia joined the District in 1993 and served as a School Nurse at Walter R. Sundling Junior High School.
Patricia Olszewski
Christine Rossdeutcher
School Nurse Pleasant Hill Elementary School 19 Years
Registered Nurse Walter R. Sundling Junior High School 25 Years
School Nurse Thomas Jefferson Elementary School 28 Years
Program Assistant, MILE Program Gray M. Sanborn Elementary School 12 Years
Patricia joined the District in 1993 and served as a School Nurse at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.
Christine joined District 15 in 2008 and served as a Program Assistant for the MILE Program at Gray M. Sanborn Elementary School.
Peggy Peak
Jeannette Sander
Math Teacher Jane Addams Elementary School 29 Years
Bilingual Resource Teacher Winston Campus Junior High School 30 Years
Peggy joined District 15 and served as a Math Intervention Teacher at Jane Addams Elementary School. She had the honor of working at Jane Addams for her entire career in D15 as a 5th, 6th and math intervention teacher. Mrs. Peak is a National Board Certified Teacher.
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Jeannette joined the District in 1991 and served as a Bilingual Resource Teacher at Winston Campus Junior High School. Ms. Sander also served as a Teacher and Administrator at Lake Louise Elementary School, Kimball Hill Elementary School and Winston Campus Junior High. Prior to joining District 15, she was a Teacher in Unit District #60 in Waukegan. Upon retirement, Jeannette would like to travel, move somewhere warmer (eventually), read a lot of books, and plan fun activities with family and friends.
Leslie Scheer
Frances Whitehead
Bus Driver Transportation Department 27 Years
Bus Aide Transportation Department 22 Years
Leslie joined District 15 in 1999 and served as a Bus Driver with the Transportation Department.
Frances joined District 15 in 1999 and served as a Bus Aide with the Transportation Department.
Timothy Sherman
Shari Zeman
Bus Driver Transportation Department 24 Years
Fifth Grade Teacher Frank C. Whiteley Elementary School 33 Years
Timothy joined the District in 1996 and served as a Bus Driver with the Transportation Department.
Shari joined District 15 in 1988 and served as a Fifth Grade Teacher at Frank C. Whiteley Elementary School. She began her career as a Self-Contained Teacher at Willow Bend Elementary School (1988-1992) and then transitioned to become a Resource Teacher (Carl Sandburg Junior High School) before joining the Frank C. Whiteley staff for the remainder of her District 15 career. Mrs. Zeman is a Koalaty Kids Certified Trainer and also a Recipient of the Teacher’s Recognition Award In the “Who’s Who” Book of Teachers. In addition, she received a grant to pilot the use of iPads in her classroom. Upon retirement, Shari and her husband, Mark, plan to retire to Florida.
Cathy Troope
Third Grade Teacher Lincoln Elementary School 20 Years Cathy joined the District in 2001 and served as a Third Grade Teacher at Lincoln Elementary School. She began her work in District 15 as a Third Grade Teacher at Lake Louise before transferring to Lincoln in 2002 where she spent the remainder of her career.
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our years of commitment and dedication to your profession and to District 15 have made a tremendous difference in this community and in the lives of thousands of young people you have served. T hank you, and best wishes for a happy and healthy retirement!
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ducation is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. —William Butler Yeats
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teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart. —Author Unknown
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ge is only a number, a cipher for the records. A man can’t retire his experience. He must use it. —Bernard Baruch
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ow lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. —A. A. Milne
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Community Consolidated School District 15 Board of Education Lisa Beth Szczupaj, President
Frank J. Annerino, Vice President Samantha Bray Ader, Secretary Wenda Hunt Zubair Khan James Taylor Anthony Wang
Superintendent of Schools Laurie Heinz, Ed.D.