Schools
95 D202 Parents, Teachers Honored At 47th Annual CAPE Awards Ceremony
CAPE serves as a bridge between district leadership and parent groups at all 31 District 202 schools.
PLAINFIELD, IL — Almost 100 parents, community members, teachers and staff were honored at a Plainfield School District 202 awards ceremony April 12.
District 202's Committee for the Coordination of Administration and Parent Groups for Educational Efficiency (CAPE) hosted its 47th annual awards night at Plainfield South High School. The group serves as a bridge between district leadership and parent groups at all 31 District 202 schools.
Besides school-level awards for teacher of the year, support staff of the year and volunteer of the year, CAPE also named winners for the Community Award and CAPE Lifetime Contributor Award.
Find out what's happening in Plainfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Amy Rauen, a District 202 parent and Wallin Oaks Elementary School special education paraprofessional, won the Community Award. She was honored for her "extraordinary multifaceted work at the school and her community volunteerism" with a number of organizations, including Give Kids the World, which supports children battling cancer.
"Rauen's colleagues refer to [her] as 'an angel' because she says 'yes' to all things in helping with students, animal shelters and charities," district officials said in a news release.
Find out what's happening in Plainfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Heather Roach, who has been involved in District 202 organizations for about 20 years and was reelected in April to the Board of Education, was honored with the CAPE Lifetime Contributor Award for her service to the community. She is involved in the Parent Teacher Organization at Eagle Pointe Elementary School and Heritage Grove Middle School, CAPE, and superintendent search committees.
Here's a look at this year's award winners by school:
Charles Reed Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Colleen Robey
- Support Staff of the Year: Cynthia Perez
- Volunteer of the Year: Sierra Armstrong
Meadow View Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Nicole Szaler
- Support Staff of the Year: Sheri Gunderson
- Volunteer of the Year: Amanda Dabbas
Ridge Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Kimpay Sesta
- Support Staff of the Year: Angela Briseno
- Volunteer of the Year: Kelly Hopson
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Karen Killian
- Support Staff of the Year: Hilda Lara
- Volunteer of the Year: Adrianna Aurich
Wesmere Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Robyn Anderson
- Support Staff of the Year: Nick Block
- Volunteer of the Year: Jackie Hernandez
Central Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Lisa Shackley
- Support Staff of the Year: Patti Bachman
- Volunteer of the Year: Meghan Greztich
Crystal Lawns Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Michael Galati
- Support Staff of the Year: Cindy Cook
- Volunteer of the Year: Rita Sevik
Grand Prairie Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Gabriella Shepherd
- Support Staff of the Year: Clarydyan Gray-Frausto
- Volunteer of the Year: Brian Erhardts
River View Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Jenna Myers
- Support Staff of the Year: Linda Flynn
- Volunteer of the Year: Becky Walters
Bonnie McBeth Learning Center
- Teacher of the Year: Gabriella Olson
- Support Staff of the Year: Tina Vasquez
- Volunteer of the Year: Trista Countryman
Eagle Pointe Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Hayley Elwell
- Support Staff of the Year: Mariangela Scardullo
- Volunteer of the Year: Lindsey Parker
Freedom Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Christy Teare
- Support Staff of the Year: Elizabeth Connors
- Volunteer of the Year: Jacki Block
Lincoln Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Shari Phelps
- Support Staff of the Year: Shannon Abbatacola
- Volunteer of the Year: Kandice LaGiglia
Walker’s Grove Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Karen Kalicki
- Support Staff of the Year: Nikki Lien
- Volunteer of the Year: Meggan Florell
Wallin Oaks Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Lee Parrott
- Support Staff of the Year: Alex Gonzalez
- Volunteer of the Year: Nicole Bell
Plainfield Academy
- Teacher of the Year: Richard Roy
- Support Staff of the Year: Cherish Knight
- Volunteer of the Year: Rebecca Bernal
Creekside Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Piper Garcia
- Support Staff of the Year: Julie Tarnowski
- Volunteer of the Year: Kelly Cassidy
Elizabeth Eichelberger Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Carrie Thurn
- Support Staff of the Year: Mario Nieslushowski
- Volunteer of the Year: Jackie Passarelli
Lakewood Falls Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Sara Hickman
- Support Staff of the Year: Lisa Kuziel
- Volunteer of the Year: Elizabeth Hespell
Liberty Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year: Kelly Liberatore
- Support Staff of the Year: Kim Ruetsche
- Volunteer of the Year: Adolfo Venegas
John F. Kennedy Middle School
- Teacher of the Year: Anthony Carlson
- Support Staff of the Year: Eric Mack
- Volunteer of the Year: Dianeth Cordic
Aux Sable Middle School
- Teacher of the Year: Karen Bedore
- Support Staff of the Year: LaTonya Brewton
- Volunteer of the Year: Renee Connors
Drauden Point Middle School
- Teacher of the Year: Melissa Graves
- Support Staff of the Year: Daniel Torrijos-Ugalde
- Volunteer of the Year: Candace Moore
Indian Trail Middle School
- Teacher of the Year: Michelle Paczynski
- Support Staff of the Year: Mary Grace Braccio
- Volunteer of the Year: Gretchen Ibrahim
Timber Ridge Middle School
- Teacher of the Year: Margaret McCarthy
- Support Staff of the Year: Jessica Jaszczak
- Volunteer of the Year: Kristie Hanna
Heritage Grove Middle School
- Teacher of the Year: Deb Countryman
- Support Staff of the Year: Amy Camarata
- Volunteer of the Year: Jennifer Gailey
Ira Jones Middle School
- Teacher of the Year: Erica Swanson
- Support Staff of the Year: John Conteh
- Volunteer of the Year: Blair Kramer
Plainfield Central High School
- Teacher of the Year: Sarah Russell
- Support Staff of the Year: Ruth Brick
- Volunteer of the Year: Melissa Pennuto
Plainfield North High School
- Teacher of the Year: Robert Krahulik
- Support Staff of the Year: Celia Cavada
- Volunteer of the Year: Carmen Ladd-Koch
Plainfield South High School
- Teacher of the Year: Sevgi Acik
- Support Staff of the Year: Osvaldo "Ozzie" Morin
- Volunteer of the Year: Candace Moore
Plainfield East High School
- Teacher of the Year: Anthony Waznonis
- Support Staff of the Year: Denise Newtoff
- Volunteer of the Year: Danielle McGraw
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
