National Merit finalists named
Five seniors from Maine Township High School District 207 schools were recently named National Merit Scholarship Finalists for 2022.
Performance on the PSAT, taken during the student’s junior year, determines National Merit status, according to the district.
The District 207 finalists are Viraj Bodiwala, Rebecca Hurwitz and Stella Tsogtjargal from Maine East High School and Darin Chen and Ryne Downing of Maine South High School.
Director of student services hired
Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 has named Alicia Schmeisser as its new director of student services, overseeing special education programming.
The District 64 Board of Education on Feb. 24 approved the hiring of Schmeisser, who will replace Lea Anne Frost as director on July 1. Frost, who was hired by the district in 2018, is retiring after more than three decades in special education, the district said.
According to the district, Schmeisser began her career as a social worker at Henking Elementary School in Glenview in 2008. She is currently director of student services with Pennoyer School District 79 in Norridge.
“I believe Alicia will take the foundation Dr. Frost laid in District 64 and continue to grow the special education department,” District 64 Superintendent Eric Olson said in a statement.
Schmeisser has a masters of social work degree, a masters in educational leadership and is working toward a doctorate in educational administration from Illinois State University, District 64 said.
Free dental visits available in District 207
Free dental visits are being offered to students at Maine East High School in Park Ridge and Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Maine Township High School District 207 said.
The Advocate Dental Van will visit the schools several times in the coming months, providing exams, cleanings, x-rays and a fluoride treatment, according to the district. The visit is free for uninsured families.
Appointments are available during the school day and a parent does not need to be present, the district said. To make an appointment, visit east.maine207.org/news/free-dental-visits-available-to-district-207-students and click the link to the sign-up form.
District 207 staff recognized by state board of education
Eleven Maine Township High School District 207 staff members were recently recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education’s Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year programs.
Recognized as Those Who Excel were Maine South school psychologist Steve Mihalopoulos and former Maine East school psychologist Susana Held for student support personnel; Maine South teaching assistant Sherrone Thompson and Daniel Kolen, coordinator of digital media, for educational service personnel; District 207 School Board President Paula Besler and Maine Township High School Foundation President Susan Yadgar for community volunteer; and District 207 Assistant Superintendent for Finance Mary Kalou for administration.
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The district’s maintenance and custodial teams and the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support leadership team were also recognized for meritorious service, the district said.
In the Teacher of the Year category, Maine East teacher and instructional coach Eric Coval and Maine West teacher and instructional coach Kristi Ryken received meritorious service recognition. Teachers Lauren Haman of Maine South and Kelly Voigt of Maine West earned meritorious service recognition in the Early Career Educator category.