The District 202 Board of Education will honor 19 exceptional educational staff and community members at its 34th annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
The event is open to the community and will be held in the auditorium at Plainfield North High School, 12005 S. 248th Ave, Plainfield.
The Awards of Excellence honor teachers and non-administrative staff who have significantly impacted their students, schools, and the community. The Board will present 15 Awards of Excellence to district staff members this year.
A committee of two Board members and the Board’s two community ambassadors selects the Awards of Excellence winners from nominations submitted by students, staff, and parents. The Board has honored more than 500 individuals since the Award’s inception in 1993.
“The Board of Education is very proud of all of our staff and the tremendous work they do every day, every year, to serve our students and families,” said Board of Education President Rod Westfall, chairperson of the Board’s recognition committee.
The Board will also present the:
Cheryl Ricciardi Exceptional Student Service Award to Dr. Mary Kukla, social worker, Ira Jones Middle School.
Richard Ira Jones Memorial Award to Cindy Egizio, Associate Principal at Plainfield East High School.
Elizabeth “Bess” Eichelberger Award to Dr. Jennifer Hennegan, Principal at Central Elementary School
Lane Abrell Award to Dr. Scott Winters, Principal at Lakewood Falls Elementary School.
The 2026 Awards of Excellence winners are (in alphabetical order):
Jennifer Donckers, Plainfield North High School
Robert Duncan, Lincoln Elementary School
Megan Eberle, Wesmere Elementary School
Karyn Fuller, Lincoln Elementary School
Alyssa Graham, Freedom Elementary School
Alexandria Kordelewski, Plainfield East High School
Amy Miller, River View Elementary School
Michael Schmitt, Plainfield East High School
Eileen Schwartz, Heritage Grove Middle School
Nicole Sharp, Bonnie McBeth Early Learning Center
Rebecca Smith, Freedom Elementary School
Angela Trainor, Timber Ridge Middle School
Cassie Urlaub, Grand Prairie Elementary School
Jacob Weisbrodt, Wesmere Elementary School
Tina Vasquez, Bonnie McBeth Early Learning Center