Palos West Principal Pays Donation Forward

When a delivery of 54 pairs of new shoes arrived at her school this year, Palos West Principal Jennifer Peloquin thought about the best way to utilize the unexpected donation.

Peloquin, who began teaching in the Palos 118 School District in 2000 and has served as the Palos West Elementary School Principal since 2014, said that it quickly occurred to her that the best way to utilize the generous donation from the Tradehome Shoes store in Orland Park was to pay it forward.

That’s what brought Peloquin back to Winston Churchill Elementary School in Homewood School District 153 this fall, where she taught 4th grade from 1998 to 2000 in room #26. Over the years, she said she’s kept in touch with her mentor teacher Patricia Callahan, and 4th grade teaching colleague Lisa Sue.

“I thought this was the perfect school to pay it forward to as I had the privilege of not only being a teacher there but also learned from excellent teachers like Ms. Patricia Callahan and Mrs. Lisa Sue,” she said.

“Ms. Callahan was very inspirational to me,” she continued, adding, “As a teacher, she continues to make lasting impressions on her students at Churchill with her ability to truly connect with children.”

“It was such a welcome gift to get these shoes,” said, Mrs. Callahan who noted that students and the school’s physical education teachers were excited when they got a peek at the new shoes.

“Our Physical Education teachers often see students without the proper shoes to engage in P.E. activities,” she said.

Bradley Tritt, manager of the Orland Park Store (#129), said that the donation comes from the retail chains’ ‘Trade at Home Give at Home’ program. The retailer sets aside $1 from every sale of its Century water proofer with the funds being used to purchase shoes for donation to a school nominated by the community.

Palos West students have a history of helping their community. For over 30 years, students have organized a mitten drive which are donated to organizations in need. The school also organizes an annual toy drive, food drive, and collects pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House.