Retired D202 Superintendent Honored With 2022 Niehus Award

PLAINFIELD, IL — Former Superintendent Lane Abrell, who retired June 30 after more than 20 years helming Plainfield School District 202, won the 2022 Niehus Award for commitment to the community, officials announced.

Abrell was presented with the award by Former Foundation Chair Margie Bonuchi, who also retired in June, during the Board of Education's regular meeting July 25.

"I am flattered and honored to formally end my education career with such a distinguished honor as the Niehus Award," Abrell said. "Working in public education, helping students grow in every aspect of their lives, preparing them for the world outside our doors, has been a joy and privilege."

The District 202 Foundation for Excellence's Walter G. and Juanita F. Niehus Award, established in 1986, honors certified or non-certified staff and support members who have shown "extraordinary" commitment to students, parents and employees.

Numerous coworkers who nominated Abrell praised the superintendent for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as his ability to create connections and celebrate the district's history while molding its future, according to Tom Hernandez, the district's director of community relations.

"Even as we were creating out of thin air a remote learning plan, and buying and distributing 17,000 laptops during the pandemic, Dr. Abrell never lost site of students as the whole reason we were here," Bonuchi said.

Abrell joined District 202 in 1997 after working as a health and driver education teacher, boys' basketball coach, dean of students and assistant principal at other districts for 11 years.

From 1999-2007, he served as assistant principal of Plainfield High School — now Plainfield Central — and in 2013, he was named the district's first associate superintendent. In 2014, he took over as superintendent of schools upon John Harper's retirement.

During his time with the district, he approved and lead the construction of the district's 18th elementary school, Wallin Oaks, which allowed for full-day kindergarten across the district.