D181 WELCOMES NEW STAFF
Community Consolidated Elementary District 181 welcomed several new staff members for the 2024-25 school year.
“These talented individuals bring a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives to our educational community,” Gina Herrmann, assistant superintendent of human resources, wrote in a memo to the board. “We are confident their contributions will enhance our students’ learning experiences and support our district’s ongoing success.”
Administrator
Erica Ekstrom, assistant superintendent of student services
Teachers
Brittany Bardach, HMS resource teacher
Erin Collins, Madison kindergarten teacher
Lauren Culver, elementary orchestra teacher
Sara Denlinger, Madison and Monroe music teacher
Shelbi Domjen, Monroe fifth-grade teacher
Emily Gilligan, HMS PE teacher
Mikayla Gonzalez, Elm resource teacher
Sara Hein, HMS social studies teacher
Lisa Hoppe, HMS reading specialist and resource teacher
Erin Joyce, Monroe kindergarten teacher
Bridget McDonald, Oak first-grade teacher
Lucy Mullane, Oak fifth-grade teacher
Mary Petschinsky, Madison kindergarten teacher
Cheri Wartan, Walker resource teacher
Kirk Williams, Madison and Walker PE teacher
Support staff
Timothy Awoyemi, help desk technician team lead
Thressa Bradley Johnson, instructional assistant
Brian Bresnahan, business office coordinator
Laura Castellanos, HMS administrative assistant
Tyler Drozd, instructional assistant
Angela Kapotos, Prospect RtI tutor
Lisette Kreuzer, Madison RtI tutor
Maria Kukulski, instructional assistant
Dannee Polomsky, instructional assistant
Susan Reeder, Madison administrative assistant
Mary Sipka, instructional assistant
Vivian Trujillo, instructional assistant
John Walsh The Lane and Elm health desk technician
CENTRAL TEENS HELP FLOOD VICTIMS
Six Hinsdale Central freshmen girls (founders of the Hinsdale Babysitters Club), have raised $1,500 to help aid the victims of the Rio Grande do Sul floods that occurred earlier this spring in Brazil.
The girls — Alexandra De Vita, Ava Menza, Honour Caruso, Josie Braden, Lila Sodikoff and Natalia Ribeiro — visited the nonprofit Instituto Cultural Floresta to present their donation while they were in Brazil this month with their school friend, who is from Brazil.
The students hosted a two-day cheer, art and dance camp for almost 65 first- through fifth-graders in Hinsdale, many of whom they have babysat over the summer.
The girls plan to host the camp annually moving forward.
HPL RECEIVES STATE GRANT
The Hinsdale Public Library was one of six libraries in the 23rd Senate District to receive a state grant to help ensure all residents have access to quality resources and programming, Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias announced.
Hinsdale received $25,831 of the $228,196 in grant money distributed in the district.
“Libraries play a crucial role in enriching our communities with valuable resources and opportunities,” said State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-23, Western Springs). “Through these grants, we aim to enhance access to cutting-edge technologies, diverse reading materials and impactful community involvement.”
The grants, awarded throughout Illinois, included annual per capita and equalization aid grant funding, public library construction grants and one-time newly created technology grants to help libraries most in need to upgrade their technology infrastructure.
