Bloomington Rotary Club honors impactful educators

Posted on May 3, 2018
(Left to right) Jen Weaver, Claire Michaels, club president Dave Rutledge, Judy Szabo, and Suzie Hutton. The Rotary Club honored the four educators today for their hard work in the classroom. (Photo by Patrick Baron/WJBC)

By Patrick Baron

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Rotary Club is celebrating four educators who are making a difference in the lives of their students.

The club recognized Claire Michaels of Oakland Elementary, Judy Szabo from Washington Elementary, Suzie Hutton of Bloomington Junior High, and Jen Weaver from Bloomington High School. Rotary president Dave Rutledge said the club is proud to celebrate educators who impact their students.

“They make a difference everyday. They’re touching so many lives, especially these young people,” Rutledge explained. “To recognize the teachers that do make a difference helps and encourages them to do more.”

Rutledge explained the four were chosen to be honored by the people who know them best – their co-workers and peers.

“We let the principals and their staffs pick the teachers that they felt made a difference,” said Rutledge. “They’re there everyday, they see them everyday, so we let them choose.”

Rutledge said the club will honor first responders later this month.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…