Publications & Sites 
District 28 Notes for June 21
Updated: July 24, 2012 10:13AM
Summer school program
District 28’s summer school program runs through July 13, with new courses for 2012 including Juggling, Young Logophiles, Adventures in iPads, and TV Production. There are 578 students enrolled in summer school, including 83 students who reside in School District 27, who have been offered the opportunity to enroll in courses.
The district offered nearly 70 courses this year, totaling 121 sections of classes. This includes 23 new classes. “The courses give students an opportunity to explore interests in a relaxed environment”, said Courtney Nordstrom, summer school director for the district. “Summer school is a time to make new friends and see familiar ones while working on a skill or learning something new. There is something for everyone because we offer a wide variety of classes.”
New staff members approved
The board on May 22 approved the appointment of eight new staff members. The five new elementary-level Spanish teachers are Jennifer Jacobs, Betsy Ross, Rachel Scherer, Lynsee Whitman, and Marcela Witkowski.
Jennifer Jacobs has been a long-term substitute Spanish teacher in several districts in the La Cross, Wi., area. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish/Education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and has extensive experience studying abroad in Mexico and Costa Rica.
Betsy Ross has been teaching in Wilmette District 39 since 2008, and she is also the lead drama teacher at Skyline Studios in Chicago. She previously taught English to first through seventh graders in an all-Spanish speaking environment in Lebrija, Spain. Ross earned her bachelor’s degree in humanities from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and she earned her master of arts in teaching degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.
Rachel Scherer has been a first grade Spanish bilingual teacher at Robert Frost Elementary School in Wheeling since 2007, and she completed her student teaching with K-5 students in an all-Spanish speaking environment in Avila, Spain. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Indiana University in Bloomington, In., and her master of arts in teaching degree in curriculum and instruction from National Louis University in Wheeling.
Lynsee Whitman is a Spanish teacher at Highcrest Middle School in Wilmette District 39, and she has experience teaching kindergarten through eighth grade students. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, and her master of arts in teaching degree, with an emphasis in English Language Learning, from Concordia University in River Forest.
Marcela Witkowski has been a Spanish teacher in Glenview School District 34 since 2010, and she previously was a Spanish and business education teacher at the Ronald McNair Magnet School in Florida. She earned her bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Central Florida. While working as an office assistant for a school, she discovered her passion for working with children, and she decided to earn her teaching certificate. Witkowski is currently earning her master’s degree in Latin American Literature & Culture from Northeastern University in Chicago. A native Spanish speaker, she is originally from Panama.
In addition, three staff members were appointed to fill open positions.
Katharine Gerber will be the new speech pathologist for both Northbrook Junior High School and the Meadowbrook pre-school program. Gerber has been the speech language pathologist at Aptakisic-Tripp District 102 in Buffalo Grove since 2006. She earned her bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology from Illinois State University in Normal. She earned her master’s degree in communication disorders and science from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
Jeri Hockensmith will be the new orchestra teacher at Northbrook Junior High. She has been directing orchestra at Consolidated School District 15 in Palatine since 2010, and she has also been a chamber music coach for the Elgin Youth Symphony Chamber Music Institute. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Stephanie Smith will be the new EXCEL enrichment specialist at Northbrook Junior High. She taught English at Lebanon High School in New Hampshire for four years and is currently director of curriculum, instruction & assessment. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Worcester State College in Worcester, Ma., and master’s degree in liberal arts from Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H.
