Hinsdale High School Teachers Association

The Hinsdale High School Teachers Association is pleased to report that eighteen graduating seniors were the recipients of $12,800 in scholarships awarded by the Association this year. The scholarship fund was raised through the Staff Talent Show and Spaghetti Dinner at Hinsdale South, and Pancake Breakfast at Hinsdale Central. Events were held during Homecoming week at both schools.

Student recipients were selected from an outstanding pool of applicants. Criteria for consideration included: academic achievement, community service, demonstrated pursuit of excellence, commitment to a career in teaching and financial need.

Recipients at Hinsdale South included four $1,000 scholarships and eight $500 scholarships awarded to:

• Gina Calvello
• Grace Chang
• Cristina Duran
• Yasmine Hatamleh
• Christine Miller
• Kevin Miller
• Justin Ng
• Rahul Puranmalka
• Jessica Reif
• Vienet Romero
• Mariah Wood
• Dan Zangri

Recipients at Hinsdale Central included five $700 scholarships and one $1,300 scholarship awarded to:

• Maeve Andrews
• Christina Lantero
• Colleen Leahy
• Erin Quaid
• Ann Marie Richard
• Jordan Spinazola

Congratulations and best of luck in college to our recipients!

Terry Meyers has been a fixture in the Hinsdale Central World Languages department for over three decades. She has also been a great source of support and inspiration for me. Not that I’ve learned any French from Terry, but rather that she has been a long time HHSTA-Central Vice president and continued to be active in the Association even after her service as an officer ended. She’s been a source of information, guidance and a go-to person for help with Association business over the years.

Suburban Life had a nice write up on her career influence on her students recently. In it, you can read all about Terry’s career as an outstanding educator who modeled educational excellence for our students for more than three decades. Here’s a snip:

“What really is gratifying is to see the improvement (students) may not notice themselves, or when I take students on a trip to France and see the impact it has on them.

[…]“Even over just the last 10 years, teaching has changed, especially with progress made in technology. Today the tools with which we work is just off-the-charts better than before, the materials at our disposal have improved so much,” Meyers said. “I know the expectations of teachers has also increased exponentially, from the planning to the record keeping,” Meyers said.

We wish Terry all the best of luck!

Hinsdale High School Teachers Association is proud to recognize the achievement of Hinsdale Central Social Studies teacher Mike DiMatteo on being recognized as a 2010 Golden Apple Teacher of Distinction. Aside from being the varsity head football coach and member in the Association, Mike is always striving to represent the professional excellence in the classroom that our teachers are known for.

From the Golden Apple Foundation press release:

Teachers of Distinction are recognized for their distinguished contribution to teaching and are asked to participate in Golden Apple programs.

The honorees, all high school teachers, were selected from a pool of 562 nominees. Golden Apple has recognized outstanding Chicago-area educators annually since 1986. The creation of Golden Apple founders Mike and Pat Koldyke, the Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching recognize and honor outstanding teachers for their contributions to building a stronger, better-educated citizenry.

“The 20 outstanding educators we’re honoring as Teachers of Distinction this year all exemplify excellence in classroom leadership. We look forward to their contributions to the mission and programs of Golden Apple,” said Golden Apple President and CEO Dominic Belmonte.

DiMatteo in his own words in a recent Suburban Life interview:

“I think some people have a stereotype that coaches are just Xs and Os guys who teach in order to coach. But that isn’t what I am about. I am a teacher who coaches football,” said DiMatteo, now in his sixth year at Hinsdale Central teaching Advanced Placement European History and World Cultures.

[…]

“It’s an honor because the Golden Apple is the highest level award a teacher can receive,” said DiMatteo.

[…]

He currently is working toward a second masters degree in education.

“Any time you can grow professionally, it is a good thing,” DiMatteo said.

Congratulations to Mike for his outstanding achievement and demonstration of professional excellence!

After a long process, District 86 announced a new principal for Central next year:

On Monday, December 14, 2009, the Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of Mr. Michael McGrory, Principal of Ames High School in Ames, Iowa, as the next Principal of Hinsdale Central High School for the 2010-2011 school year.

Mr. McGrory brings much experience, energy, and excitement to this position, having served most recently as the Principal of Ames High School since 2001. In this role, he manages budgetary, operational, and personnel aspects of a high school with a very diverse and high achieving student population of 1,500, and oversees 105 certified teachers, and 65 support staff. In addition, he implemented a High School Reform recommendation and oversaw a $13 million building renovation project. Ames High School is comparable to Hinsdale Central in that it is a state leader in its number of National Merit Finalists and 93% of its students attend a postsecondary institution. Professionally, Mr. McGrory serves on various district and state committees, and he participates in community committees and volunteer opportunities, as well. Prior to his principalship at Ames High School, he served as Principal of a Middle School for three years, and Principal of a K-12 school for two years.

Mr. McGrory was introduced to the faculty and staff on Tuesday morning, followed by a short reception for us to begin to get to know him. I look forward to continuing the productive and collaborative relationship that has been developed over recent years with our current and former building leaders. We wish him well, and look forward to working together at the start of the 2010-11 school year.

Congratulations and welcome to Hinsdale Central, Mr. McGrory!

For American Education Week, our current Interim Principals wrote the following letter to the local media:

The occasion of American Education Week provided us the opportunity to reflect on our experience at Hinsdale Central.  In August, we met with a group of students and asked them what they liked most about attending Central.  The first thing they said, to a person, was their appreciation for the fine teaching and support staff.  Their eyes “lit up” when they shared about the passion which teachers have for their subject and for teaching; when they shared how much the support staff cares, helping students through both academic and non-academic issues; and when they shared about the excellent relationship which students have with the staff at HCHS.

Since that day in August, we have visited classes in which students have struggled with the material and have observed teachers differentiating instruction in order to meet the varied academic needs of those students.  We have observed teachers challenging students academically in order to “stretch them” educationally, preparing them for the post-high school experience.  We have observed dedicated coaches and sponsors giving students wonderful opportunities to grow in the areas of team work and learning the benefits of hard work.  We have observed counselors helping students understand what it takes to prepare a quality college application.  We have observed social workers meet with students in extreme social and emotional circumstances and help them cope with those circumstances.  The staff at Hinsdale Central is among the finest with which we have worked.  It has been an honor and privilege to be associated with them as colleagues.
Tom Paulsen
Frank Kesman
Interim Principals, Hinsdale Central High School

Thanks to Tom and Frank for their dedication and wonderful professionalism shown this year as well.

With the chill in the air and the variety of innovative invitation methods being employed for dance partners, it must mean we are rapidly approaching Homecoming!  That means that it is time for the Annual Pancake Breakfast, taking place this Saturday, October 10th, from 7:30am to 12pm. Ah, I love the smell of pancakes in the morning!

Come see current and former teachers do daring deeds like flip pancakes, juggle cups of coffee, and balance pans of hot sausages before the parade and games. Carbs are your friends! Tickets can be purchased in advance from teachers for a price of $5.50; tickets are $6 at the door. Proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast benefit the Hinsdale High School Teachers Association Scholarship Fund.

Teachers its not too late to be a part of this tradition. Teacher  sign up sheets are available in the mailroom or through your Department Representative. Even if you can’t be here for the breakfast, be sure to sell those tickets! Thanks and hope to see you there!!

Each year HHSTA sponsors a pancake breakfast at Central during our homecoming weekend. All of the net proceeds from this breakfast go directly into a scholarship fund that is used to provide numerous scholarships to seniors who intend to major in education in college. Applications are available in the guidance office in March and interviews for qualified applicants take place usually in May. This year six HHSTA scholarships were awarded at Central for applicants entering teaching training programs.

HHSTA proud to recognize, encourage and support students interested in pursuing degree programs that will help them enter into teaching profession. This year’s recipients are:

HHSTA Teacher Scholarship:

Ryan DeLeon
AnneMarie Madej
Madeja “Maddy” Metcalf
Jacqueline “Jackie” McGinn
Taylor Schroyer
Kelly Yadinak

Congratulations!