Alumni News and Events

Alumni in the News

School of Education alums are making the news on a daily basis!
Here you will find stories from local and national newspapers featuring our alums from all over the country.  Articles include alums that have recently been married, received promotions, and many other significant events.

Would you like to share an article in which you or a fellow classmate have been featured in lately?  Please share the link with us, so we can include you on our web site!

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Dave Beiermann

Master teacher - Karate instructor thrives on challenges
Dave Beiermann of Carrollton may be tough on the outside, but he is soft on the inside. [full story]

Wanda LeFlore

Wanda LeFlore, local principal, named Peabody Logos Leader
A St. Louis principal was surprised at school Tuesday with an award for her dedication and compassion for her students. [full story]

Russ Tepen

District introduces AHS principal, athletic director
Parents, student and faculty rolled out the red "bird" carpet Monday afternoon to welcome new Alton High School principal Dr. Russ Tepen and athletic director Jeff Alderman to the community. [full story]

Brenda Vernatti

Education excellence - Longtime educator to retire
For the past 26 years, Brenda Vernatti has been an educator in the Alton school system, and many say the district is fortunate to have her. [full story]

Martha Warford

Community leader - Chairwoman takes helm at RBGA
Martha Warford, the RiverBend Growth Association's new chairwoman for 2012, says her involvement with the organization allows her to keep a finger on the pulse of the area's progress and growth. [full story]

Brenda Pitts

The way forward - Principal brings fresh ideas to role
Debra Pitts, principal of Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto, has been named the auxiliary board chair for United Way of Greater St. Louis' Southwest Illinois Division. [full story]

Mia Smith

Illinois Wesleyan players inspire coach during cancer treatment
She sat there beaming, fashioning one of the nets that were cut down from the Hope College baskets around her neck and enjoying the banter with the media. Smiling, joking and eagerly answering any question thrown at her. And what was not to like? Just a half hour earlier, coach Mia Smith's Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team had just won the NCAA Division III national basketball championship. [full story]

Barbara Gillian

YWCA announces 2012 Women of Distinction honorees
The YWCA of Alton is pleased to announce the 2012 Women of Distinction Honorees. They are Mary Albert-Fritz, Debby Edelman, Diane Schuette, Karen Baker-Brncic, Barbara Gillian, Amy Sholar, Toni Corona, Fern Halliday, Karen Wilson and Mattie Jean Miller. [full story]

Tanya Patton

School Getting Fit For The First Lady
Principal Tanya Patton is trying to shape young minds and muscles. [full story]

Robert Dahm

Belleville West principal gets new position with District 201
Bob Dahm, who has been principal at Belleville West High School since 2004, will leave the position to take a different job with District 201. [full story]

Russell Tepen

Tepen named next AHS principal
A Jerseyville native will become the next principal of Alton High this summer after receiving unanimous approval Tuesday night from the Alton School Board. [full story]

Gary Twesten

Knowledge trail - Artist stresses lifelong learning
Throughout Gary Twesten's life, being a lifelong learner has become a way of life in his quest to obtain as much knowledge as he can. [full story]

Lori Blade

Blade reaches 500 career wins on Senior Night
One by one, members of the Edwardsville Tiger girls' basketball team walked up to Lori Blade on the sideline and gave her a hug, officially congratulating their head coach on her 500th victory in the sport. [full story]

Jesse Allen

Getting kids over the hump - Instructor puts an emphasis on emotional learning
An Edwardsville man with a background in helping students deal with behavioral problems has made a business of his specialty. [full story]

Kate Page

AMS teacher wins award for educators
In a total surprise Tuesday for teacher Kate Page, her students squealed, clapped and cheered as she was escorted down the Alton Middle School Auditorium walkway to stand in front of the stage. [full story]

Greg DeCourcey

DeCourcey elected to IHSBCA Hall of Fame
Greg DeCourcey received another honor the past weekend, but the former Marquette Catholic High baseball coach declined to accept it in person. [full story]

Ed Gray

Gray gets leadership post with retired teachers group
Longtime Alton School District educator Ed Gray has been elected to serve a two-year term as a regional director for the Illinois Retired Teachers Association. [full story]

Rita Jenkins

Volunteering for children - County launching advocacy program
Rita Jenkins retired recently from District 7, and this year she is looking forward to parlaying her experience as a special education teacher into a new career as a volunteer advocate for abused and disadvantaged children in Madison County. [full story]

Karen Anders

Puppet treat - Chocolate endears himself to audiences
Area resident Karen Anders and her son, Timothy, 18, entertain all ages, from preschool students to senior citizens, with puppets like the loveable character Chocolate. [full story]

Jane Franko-York

Area teacher makes final four in nationwide competition
Fifth-grade teacher Jane Franko-York, competing in The Great American Teach Off national competition, has made it to the final four. [full story]

Danita Mumphard

SIUE adviser sings jazz
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville adviser Danita Mumphard�s first love is music. The performer, whose mother was a music teacher in St. Louis public schools and father a professional bassist, grew up with music always in the house, much like her house today with her three children and husband, Robert Mumphard Jr. Danita now performs with her dad Harold Thompson�s renowned jazz group, Trio Tres Bien, as well as solo. [full story]

Julie Gorsage

Devices make reading fun for students
Last year, West Elementary School teacher Julie Gorsage was awarded a grant from the Alton Educational Foundation that helped her second-grade students with reading and gave them confidence. [full story]

Jane Franko-York

Granite City teacher in the running for $10,000
Power up your computer and start voting. If enough folks around do, a Wilson Elementary School teacher will be the winner of a national educator contest and earn $10,000. [full story]

Sandy Curran

Innovative Edwardsville Teacher Gets State Honor
The schoolwork doesn't come out of a textbook in Sandy Curran's sixth-grade classroom at Liberty Middle School in Edwardsville. Rather, history and social studies lessons are brought to life with Egyptian tombs and medieval feasts. [full story]

Harry Cavanaugh

A class above the rest - Superintendent returns to teaching
Instead of retiring as he had planned, Harry Cavanaugh felt a calling to apply for the position of principal at Ss. Peter and Paul School in Alton. [full story]

Alex J. Herrell

Five local educators earn ISBE awards of excellence
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will honor five local educators by presenting them 2011-2012 Those Who Excel education awards during an October 22 banquet at the Marriott Bloomington-Normal Conference Center. [full story]

Linda Ames

Granite City teacher receives state award for excellence
Granite City High School social studies teacher Linda Ames has a reason to know her classroom well. As a high school junior and senior, she took American history and foreign policy classes in that room from Phil Shatto. Ames said Shatto was one of four high school teachers who helped her make up her mind about a career. [full story]

Susan Sarfaty

New chief of schools looks forward to job, even though paycheck remains uncertain
Susan Sarfaty hasn't been paid in two months. And she doubts she'll get paid for another three. Yet Sarfaty, St. Clair County's assistant regional school superintendent, eagerly accepted her promotion Monday night by the County Board as regional school superintendent. [full story]

Leslie Murphy

Teacher's career takes off at space academy
Science teacher Leslie Murphy received an out-of-this-world education last month while attending an Educator's Space Academy. [full story]

Mark Begando

Lewis and Clark Junior High gets new principal
A new principal has been named at Lewis and Clark Junior High School. [full story]

Vernetta Caffey

Educator helps students get into college
After 44 years of teaching, Vernetta Caffey says she is not nearly ready to retire to her rocking chair. "I retired in 2002, but did not wholly embrace retirement," Caffey, 65, said. "I continued an essential role in teaching by becoming a substitute teacher. I retooled, reinvented myself." [full story]

Catherine Elliott

Catherine Elliott promoted to assistant principal at Alton High
Elliott began her career with the district as a Job Training Partnership Act work coordinator in 1993, after graduating from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a bachelor of science degree in special education. [full story]

Jennifer Hendrickson

20 Under 40: A salute to the young leaders of the area
When Jennifer Hendrickson and her husband, Jim, opened Hendrickson Collision Repair in Godfrey five years ago, she knew what to exspect. [full story]

Dan Kostencki

MELHS principal retiring after long career
For 43 years, Dan Kostencki dedicated his life to education. On Friday, he turned in his books. [full story]

David Elson

Elson ready to retire after six years as Alton superintendent
The Alton School District's superintendent retires Thursday for his second time, and he says it will be for good. [full story]

Stephanie McGovern

Collinsville native hopes for Miss America crown
She's got beauty, style, talent, self-confidence and a big personality. It's not unrealistic to think that Collinsville native Stephanie McGovern could be the next Miss America. [full story]

Marcus Manning

Maryville University Names Manning As Director of Athletics
St. Louis-area native Marcus Manning has been named director of athletics at Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo., effective July 11. [full story]

Debra Sheary

Longtime educator leaving Alton district
When Lovejoy Elementary School's principal joined other district administrators in saying goodbye to students Thursday, her farewells were to last far beyond summer break. [full story]

Dave Beiermann

Tiny but tenacious - Martial arts teacher instills discipline
Dave Beiermann shows children Chuck Norris moves. [full story]

Gail Jorgenson

"A really, really fun mission': Caseyville woman oversees $7 billion budget after promotion at Scott
A Caseyville woman started her civil service career as an assistant at the Department of Agriculture in St. Louis, a job she never imagined for herself. [full story]

LaVernn Wilson

Volunteer advocates for children, encourages acceptance
LaVernn Wilson, 68, started volunteering when she was in high school, beginning her commitment to outreach programs at her neighborhood YMCA and her church. [full story]

Annice Brave

President Obama honors Alton, Kirkwood teachers
Two local teachers were among those honored by President Obama at the White House for being winners of state teacher of the year awards. [full story]

Dennis Cramsey

Cramsey named new EHS principal
Moments after Edwardsville High School Principal Norm Bohnenstiehl announced his retirement effective at the end of the school year, the Edwardsville Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of his successor. [full story]

Ryan Ketchum

Cramsey named new EHS principal
Moments after Edwardsville High School Principal Norm Bohnenstiehl announced his retirement effective at the end of the school year, the Edwardsville Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of his successor.[full story]

Alexis Otis-Lewis

Former judge takes on new career at Lindenwood
Lindenwood University has hired former St. Clair County Associate Judge Alexis Otis-Lewis to be an assistant professor of criminal justice at its Belleville campus. [full story]

Annice Brave

Alton High teacher finalist for National Teacher of the Year
Alton High School English and journalism teacher Annice Brave is a finalist for National Teacher of the Year. [full story]

Cail Furkin

Eagleview Teacher in the Spotlight
Cail Furkin received the Eagleview Elementary School teacher spotlight award for December in recognition of her dedicated service and outstanding leadership. [full story]

Dale Anderson

Columbia teacher receives spotlight award
Dale Anderson received the Immaculate Conception School teacher spotlight award for October in recognition of his dedicated service and outstanding leadership. [full story]

John J. Dunphy

Beloved, quirky and unusual holiday tales from Southern Illinois
Native son John J. Dunphy finally compiled his own Christmasy prose, which he began writing in 1984, into one volume that published just in time to fill River Bend stockings. [full story]

Danette Peach

Administrator helps disabled students succeed
Danette Peach, special education director with Bethalto Community School District Unit 8, said although the stigma surrounding special education students has virtually disappeared, people still need to be educated on what a disability means after graduation.[full story]

Becky Beal

Local Teachers Receive Awards for Excellence
Edwardsville District 7 recognized Edwardsville High School teachers Becky Beal and Marvin Battle as recipients of the 2010 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award at the Edwardsville District 7 Board of Education meeting last week. [full story]

Greg Moats

Lindenwood adds a couple of big names to faculty
Lindenwood University has added a couple of big names to the rapidly growing faculty at its Belleville campus. Recently retired 20th Judicial Circuit Judge Annette Eckert has agreed to join Lindenwood Belleville as its Criminal Justice Department chairwoman while former Belleville Township High School District 201 Superintendent Greg Moats has been hired as an assistant professor of education and an assistant basketball coach. [full story]

Thomas Steinmann

Instructor helps students conquer math fears
In his ninth year teaching in higher education, Thomas Steinmann is Lewis and Clark's 2010-2011 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award recipient. [full story]

Annice Brave

Annice Brave, Jennifer Jarden named Illinois Teacher of the Year finalists
An Alton High English and journalism teacher and a Trimpe Middle School Language Arts teacher are among the eight finalists for Illinois Teacher of the Year. [full story]

Sue Hollingsworth

Twist serving it cold
Frozen yogurt, or “fro-yo” as it has been dubbed, has arrived in Edwardsville with the opening of Twist in the University Pointe Shopping Center off of Route 157. Chuck and Lisa Twesten and Bob and Sue Hollingsworth are two local entrepreneurial families that have teamed up to bring a national trend to the Edwardsville market by opening Twist, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop. [full story]

Marcia Wickenhauser

Wickenhauser saying goodbye - County mental health director to retire
Marcia Wickenhauser will be retiring after a decade as executive director for the Madison County Community Mental Health Board. She headed a board that contracts with more than a dozen service providers around the county to provide services and treatment to the mentally ill and those with developmental disabilities, including substance abuse problems. [full story]

Tiffany Plank

Sisters team up on iLearn tutoring program
Refusing to let go of her love for teaching, a local educator is operating a tutoring center. [full story]

Sherry Drosten

Educator helps children enjoy the outdoors
Sherry Droste, the new education director for TreeHouse Wildlife Center, acquired her love for the outdoors while taking walks with her grandmother when she was a child, inspiring her to become an environmental educator. [full story]

Alan Grammer

Cougars name assistant wrestling coach
Alan Grammer, a member of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Athletics Hall of Fame, is returning to his alma mater and will serve as the associate head coach for the wrestling program and corporate relations officer. [full story]

Sandra G. Wilson

Retiring superintendent has building named for her
The Bethalto School District honored retiring superintendent Sandra Wilson during a dedication ceremony Monday night and renamed the district's Administration Building the Dr. Sandra J. Wilson Administrative Services Center. [full story]

Debbie Gates

Students dance it up for breast cancer awareness
Inspired by a You Tube dance sensation, the students and staff of Albert Cassens Elementary School donned pink surgical gloves Monday and hoofed their way through a Relay For Life finale. [full story]

Joe Gentelin

Teacher retiring after 30-year career
After more than 30 years as a teacher, Joe Gentelin will turn the light out in his classroom on his way out the door for the last time at the end of this school year. [full story]

Kristen Reeb Wardlaw

Dedicated to Dance: Sister's memory inspires championship coach
Coach Kristen Reeb Wardlaw started the first dance team at Metro East Lutheran High School in 2003, and this year the team won state championships and placed in the top 10 in the nationals. [full story]

Carol Peterson

Second graders step up technology
Carol Peterson’s second grade students at Leclaire Elementary were about to write a thank you letter to Mrs. Nolan of First Cloverleaf Bank.  Mrs. Nolan is a Junior Achievement volunteer and has visited Mrs. Peterson’s classroom several times during the school year to teach the students about their community.  [full story]

Kyle Freeman, Brian Mentzer, Larry Busch, Linda Shepheard, Alllen Scharf

Metro-east schools get leadership shake-up
A shuffling of metro-east school administrators will take place this summer after two school boards hired new administrators this week.

Liz Bray

Generation next: The young people making a difference in our area
Generation X. Generation Y. The Millennials. Whatever the label, together they are one of country's biggest population groups - mothers, fathers, workers, bosses, artists, politicians and students younger than 40. [full story]

Katie Venvertloh

Generation next: The young people making a difference in our area
Generation X. Generation Y. The Millennials. Whatever the label, together they are one of country's biggest population groups - mothers, fathers, workers, bosses, artists, politicians and students younger than 40. [full story]

Lisa Skaggs

Passionate pair opens Grace Manor Restaurant
Women who share a love for cooking started a restaurant with grace and passion. Grace Manor Restaurant, in the pre-Civil War Klingel House at 1801 N. Main St., celebrates the seasons of food with aplomb.  [full story]

Lindsey Moss

Moss~Perdun
The parents of Lindsey Moss and Darren Perdun are announcing their engagement and upcoming June wedding. She is the daughter of Jay and Jill Moss of Carrollton and he is the son of Donald and Peggy Perdun of Jerseyville.

Mary Birdsell

Gem of a Mentor
For the past 15 years, Mary Birdsell of Wood River has served as the registrar for the GEMS (Girls Empowered by Math and Science) conference held each spring for middle school girls. [full story]

Josh Martin

Martin hired to succeed Dobrino at Mount Olive
Being the successor to a coaching legend isn’t a role meant for everyone. But Josh Martin wants to give it a try. [full story]

Jayson Querciagrossa

Foundation of success- First family of Woodruff wrestling ends four decades of dedication
Contrary to the wishes of family members inside, the house that “Q’’ built has received an eviction notice. The closing of Woodruff High School at the conclusion of this school year means a long-standing Peoria tradition will soon end. [full story]

Dennis Grimmer

He's the king: One grade school's principled principal
Spend time with Principal Grimmer and you see why students and staff nominated him for World's Finest Principal, an award from Today's Catholic Teacher magazine and World's Finest Chocolate Program.

Phillip Robbins

Ex-principal leads retirees' group
Although his reign over Alton High School ended years ago, former principal Philip Robbins has made it to the top of another totem pole. [full story]

JoAnn M. Richter-Hill

JoAnn M. Richter-Hill has joined Clinical Consultants in Swansea.
JoAnn M. Richter-Hill has joined Clinical Consultants in Swansea.

Kalli Zavorka

Teacher of the month
Kalli Zavorka received the CMS feature teacher award for December. She earned it in recognition of her dedicated service and outstanding leadership. [full story]

Bette Ledder

Teacher got with digital program early
Betty Ledder, 84, longtime Hardin School District teacher, was instrumental in bringing some of the school computers to the area, and her school district was the first to have them [full story]

Brad Skertich

Southwestern hires superintendent
The new superintendent in the Southwestern school district is familiar with the district’s traditions. He has observed them all his life from the other side of the field. [full story]

Cynthia Blasa

Longtime educator relishes prospects as schools' chief
Dr. Cynthia Blasa, a longtime employee of Bethalto Community Unit School District 8, will focus on student development and enhanced school technologies in her tenure as the next superintendent. [full story]

Gina Segobiano

Belleville educator named Columbia schools chief
New superintendent to take over in July. [full story]

John Dunphy

Dunphys proud to have name on building linked to freedom route
John and Loretta Dunphy are the proud owners of the building that houses their Second Reading Bookstore, 16 E. Broadway. [full story]

Mark Marcuzzo

Mark Marcuzzo has joined the Collinsville Area Recreation District staff as the full-time manager at Arlington Greens Golf Course
Mark Marcuzzo has joined the Collinsville Area Recreation District staff as the full-time manager at Arlington Greens Golf Course, 200 Arlington Drive, in Granite City. [full story]

Renee Schuster

Francis Howell superintendent will retire at the end of the school year
Renée Schuster, superintendent of the Francis Howell School District since 2006, said this morning she plans to retire at the end of the school year.

Bobby Thomas

Former SIUE assistant flourishing with Valley
Bobby Thomas grew up in Washington, worked at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and now is director of operations for the St. Louis-based Missouri Valley Conference. [full story]

Bill Bishop

Greenfield superintendent to retire next year
The Greenfield School Board approved Superintendent Bill Bishop's request to retire at the end of the 2009-2010 school year at Monday night's meeting. [full story]

Paula Fritz

Teacher motivated by curiosity
Fourth-grade teacher Paula Fritz grew up wanting to be an astronaut but became a teacher instead - a connection that has not been lost by NASA in the space program. [full story]

Fred Clark

Fred Clark to record album of children's music
Former Collinsville resident Fred Clark is currently recording an album of children's music at Big Bang Studio in Houma, La. [full story]

Ed Settles

Return to Jersey homecoming for next superintendent
The Jersey Community School Board hired Ed Settles as superintendent during Homecoming Week, a move that Board President Greg Brown found very fitting. [full story]

Angela Peterson

Clinician recognized for motivational skills
When Angela Peterson got hired as the speech clinician at Lovejoy Elementary School in Alton, she brought more than just her education to the table.

Robert Canada

Edwardsville, East St. Louis educators contend for Teacher of the Year honors
Columbus Elementary in Edwardsville and East St. Louis High School have something in common: Each has a finalist for the Illinois Teacher of the Year award. [full story]

Melissa Sievers

Two teachers in area in running for Teacher of Year
Teachers from Edwardsville and Brussels are among the 10 finalists for the 2009-2010 Illinois Teacher of the Year, the Illinois State Board of Education announced Tuesday.

Martha Warren

Edwardsville, East St. Louis educators contend for Teacher of the Year honors
Columbus Elementary in Edwardsville and East St. Louis High School have something in common: Each has a finalist for the Illinois Teacher of the Year award. [full story]

Patricia Hanna

Hanna named track, field coach
Culver-Stockton College Director of Athletics Joel Dant has announced that Patricia “Tish” Hanna has been hired as the new cross country and track and field coach at Culver-Stockton, replacing Steve Blocker, who resigned last month. [full story]