CHICAGO (January 24, 2006) The Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools has named 14 elementary and secondary school teachers as the “2006 Heart of the School” Award winners. The awards recognize outstanding, unique and innovative accomplishments of individual teachers at Archdiocese of Chicago schools. Two awards are presented in each of seven categories.

The Heart of the School award winners each receive a pin, commemorative plaque and a monetary award provided by the following corporate sponsors: Benziger Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, Catapult Learning, CDW-G, Comcast Corporation, Lexmark, Lifetouch National School Studios, Private School Aid Service, and School Specialties, Inc.

2006 HEART OF THE SCHOOL AWARDS

The Arts: These teachers make outstanding contributions to instilling a love of the arts among students. They may be teacher of art, music, drama or other art form, or they may be teachers of other disciplines who integrate the study and appreciation of the arts within the classroom.

• Kim White of La Grange Park, who teaches Speech and Theatre to students in all four years at Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park
• David Hiett of Lake Bluff, who teaches Music to freshmen through seniors at Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette.

Catholic School Identity and Mission: These classroom teachers display best practices in religious education through the design and implementation of effective catechetical approaches in the curriculum and model a commitment to promoting peace and justice.

• Mary Ann Zenz of Oak Lawn, a third grade teacher at St. Catherine of Alexandria School in Oak Lawn
• Maureen Detty of Chicago, a Math teacher for grades 7 and 8 at St. Celestine School in Elmwood Park.

Innovation and Creativity: These teachers have exhibited the best of educational practice by initiating and implementing new learning methods in their classroom. The winners contribute to educational excellence in curriculum development, student performance and professional development.

• Valerie Kowaluk of Summit, who teaches four-year-old preschool and Kindergarten classes at St. Symphorosa School on Chicago’s southwest side
• Mary Marcotte of Elmhurst, who teaches English to sophomores and seniors at Fenwick High School in Oak Park.

Leadership: These classroom teachers have exhibited exceptional dedication in the classroom, school and community by providing leadership in one or more of the following areas; student activities, parent/school organizations, school administration, or state or national professional teacher organizations.

• Kamaal Khazen of Chicago, Dean of Applied Science at De La Salle Institute on the south side of Chicago.
• David Wood of Streamwood, who is the eighth grade Language Arts teacher at St. Anne School in Barrington.

Rising Star: These teachers, who have taught for less than five years, contribute to the success of the school by exhibiting vigor, enthusiasm and excellence in the classroom. They are involved in extra-curricular activities, exhibiting innovative and engaging strategies both in the classroom and out, and enthusiastically accept added responsibility.

• Marnie O’Neill of Orland Hills, a fifth grade teacher at Cardinal Joseph Bernardin School in Orland Hills
• Sarah Pachis of Chicago, a Science teacher for 6 th, 7 th and 8th grades and a Computer teacher for grades 4, 5, 7 and 8 at St. Cornelius School on Chicago’s north side.

Technology: These individuals have made outstanding contributions in integrating technology in education by affecting one or more of the following; curriculum, student learning or interest, assessment, or the learning environment.

• Abha Sharma of Chicago, who teaches Math and Science in grades 6 to 8 at St. Helen School on Chicago northwest side
• Diane Allen of Skokie, who teaches Technology classes for grades Kindergarten through 8 at St. Josaphat School on the north side of Chicago.

Behind the Scenes: These award recipients are full-time, non-administrative professional staff, (such as the school librarian, counselor, aide, social worker, reading specialist, nurse, etc.), who contribute to the success of educational programs in unique ways.

• Irene Halko of Chicago, Director of Technology at Queen of Peace High School in Burbank
• Nancy Halbauer of Orland Park, Dean of Women at Queen of Peace High School.

Following is information (in alphabetical order) about each of the winners:

Diane Allen of Skokie teaches Technology classes for grades K-8 at St. Josaphat School on the north side of Chicago. She has been with St. Josephat for the past three years and the Archdiocese of Chicago for the past seven years as a state certified teacher. A retired police officer and police supervisor, Allen began working with computers as a police officer and then later earned a master of education degree in computer science education. When she started at St. Josaphat, there was no technology curriculum at the school, and so Allen initiated a program and curriculum for each grade. Now, the school is a show place for technology.

Maureen Detty of Chicago is a Math teacher for grades 7 and 8 at St. Celestine School in Elmwood Park where she has spent 20 of her 25 years as a teacher. She wasn’t headed for a teaching career until her homeroom teacher senior year encouraged her to apply for a scholarship in the teaching field. She credits her principal and colleagues for being supportive and generous with their talents and does not feel what she does is extraordinary. Now when her students return to tell her she influenced them to choose the teaching profession, she feels a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Detty has served as a master teacher in an Inter-School Visiting and Sharing Program and has been a candidate for the Golden Apple award. She serves on the alumnae board of directors of her alma mater, Guerin College Preparatory High School in River Grove.

Nancy Halbauer of Orland Park is Dean of Women at Queen of Peace High School, Burbank. A teacher for 25 years, she spent most of her career in California before joining the staff at Queen of Peace three years ago as a dean. Halbauer also has been a science and physical education teacher during her career. In her present position, she has focused on intense follow up with each student across many levels to help students raise their grades and avoid academic harm. Halbauer considers her greatest accomplishment to be the fact that all the students under her care graduated and were accepted into college.

Irene Halko of Chicago is Director of Technology at Queen of Peace High School, Burbank

A 13-year veteran of the teaching profession, she has been in her present position for the past ten years. Halko’s list of accomplishments at the school is impressive. She designed and fully implemented a school-wide area network and provided for technology enriched science labs, broadcasting and graphic design labs and a web page design course. Halko also established the school’s first web page and state-approved technology plan. A person who values collaboration, Halko established, in conjunction with the Office of Catholic Schools, a support group called Technology Educators for Catholic High Schools (TECHS), which is aimed at supporting the growth and use of technology in Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

David Hiett of Lake Bluff teaches Music in grades 9 through12 at Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette. A teacher for more than a decade, he has spent the last seven years at Regina Dominican where he has incorporated the latest software and assessment techniques into his teaching to improve the performance of his vocal and instrumental students. Every two years, Hiett also has taken his students on a music performance tour, which included an Easter Liturgy at the Vatican; singing at an abbey in Austria; performing in an exchange concert with a high school choir in Ireland; and singing at Walt Disney World. These trips have provided the impetus for the introduction of music history classes at Regina Dominican. In addition to his teaching, he has been a church music director and organist for 34 years.

Kamaal Khazen of Chicago is Dean of Applied Science at De La Salle Institute on the south side of Chicago. A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, he has taught at De La Salle for the past 40 years, the past eight years as a dean. Focusing on teaching mathematics through most of his career has been very rewarding for Khazen. He has been recognized as one of the best in his field and also was recently awarded the Distinguished Life Service Award from the Mathematics Teachers Association of Chicago. Khazen believe his greatest accomplishment stems from the fact that many students he has taught and many teachers he has mentored have become very successful in life and their professions.

Valerie Kowaluk of Summit teaches f our-year-old preschool and Kindergarten classes at St. Symphorosa School on Chicago’s southwest side. A 13-year teaching veteran with a master’s degree in early childhood education, Kowaluk has demonstrated a keen awareness of how early intervention in a child’s life can set the groundwork for academic success. Kowaluk emphasizes that her job does not begin and end at the door to the school. She firmly believes that it must extend to the faith community and the neighborhood in which the school is located. She says her care and concern for her students must be communicated on a daily basis.

Mary Marcotte of Elmhurst teaches English to sophomores and seniors at Fenwick High School in Oak Park. A 28-year veteran of education, she has spent the last 11 years at Fenwick not only teaching English but in helping students in creative writing and other literary pursuits.

Marcotte is credited with starting Fenwick’s literary magazine, Touchstone, which showcases student artistic talent in poetry and prose. She also counseled students on raising the quality of the student yearbook, and her success in this area led her to be recently appointed as Student Publication Director for Fenwick. Marcotte is very proud that several of her students have gone on to hold prestigious editorial positions at such noted universities as Columbia, Yale, Creighton, Bradley and Notre Dame.

Marnie O’Neill of Orland Hills is a fifth grade teacher at Cardinal Joseph Bernardin School in Orland Hills. Originally educated as a business major, she went back to school in her 30s to earn an education degree, and initial evidence indicates she has made the most of this move. While she has only been a teacher for a year, O’Neill has made a significant impact at her school. One of her major projects involved getting her students to play “Secret Santa” during which time they put together holiday gift bags for students in disadvantaged areas. She said the children learned the joy of helping others. In fact, her students remember that project as their favorite memory of the school year.

Sarah Pachis of Chicago is a science teacher for grades 6 through 8 and a computer teacher for grades 4, 5, 7 and 8 at St. Cornelius School on Chicago’s north side. Although a teacher for only two years, the Miami of Ohio University graduate has made an impact on her students. Pachis is in charge of helping the school’s science teachers incorporate the new science curriculum. She also sponsors 50 students in the Illinois Junior Academy of Science Exposition. A member of the National Science Teachers Association, she also is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and teaches a math enrichment class at St. Cornelius.

Abha Sharma of Chicago teaches Math and Science in grades 6 through 8 at St. Helen School on Chicago northwest side. A 19-year teaching veteran, Sharma has a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in chemistry. For the past three years, she has served at St. Helen and has helped students become more proficient and successful with their science projects. Although Sharma continues to learn the latest techniques to improve her teaching ability, she says that providing love and care to her students is her greatest contribution.

David Wood of Streamwood is the eighth grade Language Arts teacher at St. Anne School in Barrington. A teacher for seven years, he has spent the last three years at St. Anne. Wood uses his teaching and communication ability to help his students learn how to be positive even when life is not going well. He also takes a leadership role in helping students broaden their educational experience by serving on the student government committee and acting as a team leader for the middle school. Wood continues to expand his educational capabilities and is pursuing graduate studies in educational leadership with the ultimate goal of becoming a Catholic school principal.

Kim White of La Grange Park teaches Speech and Theatre to freshmen through senior students at Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park. White has been a teacher for 26 years, 16 of which have been spent at Nazareth Academy. A graduate of North Central College, White was the recipient of the college’s outstanding Senior Theatre Student award and the outstanding Senior Secondary Education Student award. She believes that her greatest accomplishment has been furthering the development of the theatre department at Nazareth Academy. White is very proud that four times in the last eight years the school’s fall plays were chosen to be performed downstate at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival at Illinois State University.

Mary Ann Zenz of Oak Lawn is a third grade teacher at St. Catherine of Alexandria School in Oak Lawn. She has been cited for excellence in education by the Illinois State board of Education and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Zenz believes her greatest reward is watching students demonstrate caring and compassion toward one another. Her students write holiday letters to parish shut-ins and senior citizens and her students have their own mission banks and “Hunger Day” luncheons during Lent. Zenz lives in St. Catherine’s parish, so her students see her as a wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, caregiver for her elderly mother and Eucharistic minister.