D202 Teachers Receive Grants To Further Classroom Skills

PLAINFIELD, IL — Twenty-two Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 teachers will partake in special professional growth programs after winning financial awards.

The Foundation for Excellence created the Professional Development Awards to help individual teachers expand and improve their classroom skills and knowledge, officials said.

Each award is up to $500 and can be used to pay for registration fees, tuition, conference- or class-related materials, travel, lodging, meals or other expenses for programs taken this summer.

"We know how hard it can be to find support for professional growth," Matthew Starr, vice chairman of the Foundation for Excellence, said in a statement. "That's why we're proud to support our teachers as they continue to grow and inspire."

The following teachers are the recipients of the 2025 Professional Development Award:

• Sevgi Acik, Plainfield South High School – plans to attend the “2025 Annual American Association of Teachers of French Convention” in Chicago.
• Julie Belka, Bonnie McBeth Learning Center – plans to attend the “When Models Aren't Sticking: A One Day Intensive for Supporting Minimally Speaking Gestalt Language Processors” virtual program.
• Janelle Gray, Grand Prairie Elementary School – plans to attend the “Strengthening Family Student Relationships to Change the School Experience Dominican University” virtual program.
• Lindsey Harl, BMLC – plans to attend the “Ultimate Play Based Speech Therapy Course” virtual program.
• Judy Meier, Wallin Oaks Elementary School — Plans to attend the “2025 International Society for Technology in Education ASCD Conference” in San Antonio, Texas.
• Christie Milen, Lincoln Elementary School — Plans to attend the “Texas Computer Education Association Librarian Conference” virtual program.
• Elizabeth Pankau, Plainfield East High School — Plans to attend the “Savannah College of Art and Design Educator Forum” in Georgia.
• Lee Parrott, Wallin Oaks Elementary School — Plans to attend the “Science of Reading-Mini Con” in Racine, Wisconsin.
• Erin Sorenson-Smith, Plainfield North High School — Plans to attend the “GenCyber 2025 Teacher Camp” at University of Alabama - Huntsville.
• Kimmi Sorg, Ridge Elementary School — Sorg and 10 teachers plan to attend the “Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Center of Clemson University Virtual Summer Institute” program.
• Becky Young, Aux Sable Middle School — Plans to attend the “Google for Education Champions Symposium” in Chicago.
• Amber Yurgil, Central Elementary School — Plans to attend the virtual “Play Their Way: Fostering Engagement, Attention, and Emotional Development Through Play CSU-Pueblo” program.