The Illinois State Board of Education sponsors the Those Who Excel program to honor educators who have made significant contributions. Congratulations to Mr. George Andrikokus (band and jazz ensemble director), Mrs. Mary Lynch (instructional assistant), and Ms.Kelly Pelak (6th grade science teacher) on their Those Who Excel (TWE) awards. HMS is very fortunate to have such dedicated and compassionate staff working with our students.
D181 BOE will be hosting a District Celebration in the evening on Monday, May 6th at HMS. They will honor retirees, TWE winners, and the D181 Foundation. Everyone is welcome to attend, let’s show the HMS recipients our support! Please read the following excerpts from their nominators:
George Andrikokus (Award of Meritorious Service): George is a passionate musician and teacher. His love for music is easy to see and he builds that passion in his students. He meets his students where they are at and works tirelessly to develop them. The program that he has built at HMS allows students the opportunities that are unheard of in a middle school.
Mary Lynch (Award of Special Recognition): Mary is an exceptional paraprofessional. She isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty if it involves supporting her students. She has a keen sense of knowing just when her students are ready to be challenged or need to take a break. It is with her unwavering support that her students make incredible growth in a short period of time at HMS.
Kelly Pelak (Award of Excellence): Kelly is an incredibly innovative, engaging teacher. She will stop at nothing to keep her students excited about learning science. She makes meaningful connections with her students to ensure that her lessons pique her students’ curiosity and spark a love for her content. She is a cheerleader for all her students and they know that she is in their corner.