Ten District 181 ‘World Changers’ to be honored May 21

Ten School District 181 World Changers will be honored by the District 181 Foundation for their “above and beyond” contributions to their students, their school and their community during the District’s celebration of achievements Monday evening, May 21, at Clarendon Hills Middle School.

Jen McCredy, George Andrikokus, Meg Neubauer, Penny Davey, Mike Duggan, Jodie Whitney, Ryan Cantrell, Jeana Considine, Rosemary Grant and Julie Nardulli were selected from dozens of nominees by a committee of D181 Foundation Board members and D181 administrators.

"These awards acknowledge and highlight truly exceptional work that was so impactful it changed the world of a student, colleague, family, or the community at large in a positive and deeply meaningful way,” said D181 Superintendent Dr. Don White. “We regularly hear stories about the incredible staff of District 181; this is a way to celebrate their work.”

Duggan, D181’s Director of Facilities, oversees all buildings and grounds related matters, from custodial operations through minor and major facilities construction projects. He has been with D181 since 2012 formerly serving as Facilities Coordinator and Evening Supervisor.

Considine, Principal of Elm School in Burr Ridge since the 2007-08 school year, came to District 181 as a 5th grade teacher in 1989. She has been at Elm for all but one of the 28 years she has been with District 181. She served as a Teacher on Special Assignment for a year.

McCredy, a 7th grade language arts teacher and Language Arts Department Leader at Clarendon Hills Middle School, has been with D181 for 15 years.

Andrikokus, Director of Bands and Instrumental Music at Hinsdale Middle School, is in his 11th year of teaching, the last two of which have been at HMS.

A school social worker at Madison School in Hinsdale, Neubauer has been on the D181 team for six years.

Davey, a Differentiation Specialist at Monroe School in Hinsdale, has been in the District for 20 years. She is a former kindergarten teacher at both Monroe and Oak schools, and a gifted program teacher at Monroe and Prospect.

Whitney, an 8th grade special educator at Hinsdale Middle School, has been with District 181 for 19 years.

A 6th and 7th science teacher as well as an academic strategies teacher and 6th grade Team Leader at CHMS, Cantrell has been at CHMS for 14 years. For part of his career with D181 he also taught social studies.

Grant, a 1st grade teacher at Prospect School in Clarendon Hills, has been with District 181 since 1993 when she began as a substitute teacher. She served as a Reading Intervention teacher at Monroe School for three years.

A specialized teacher at Oak Elementary School in Hinsdale, Nardulli has been with District 181 since the 2010-11 school year when she began her career as a long- term substitute. She served as a special education resource teacher for six years before moving into her current position.

All 10 World Changers will receive a special award from the District as well as up to $300 to be used for any kind of professional development or supplies or materials for their work and $75 for personal use. The awards are sponsored by Hinsdale Bank & Trust and the District 181 Foundation.