FOUNDATION News

FOUNDATION News
D214 Community Education Foundation Newsletter
Winter 2012
Community Education Adopts New Approach to Reading
“A capacity and taste for
reading gives access to whatever
has already been discovered by
others.”
- Abraham Lincoln
The latest Illinois initiative brings
a name change to District 214
Community Education’s reading
classes that fall under the auspices
of its Adult Education & Family
Literacy (AEFL) program.
Formerly known as STAR which
stands for the Student Achievement
in Reading, AEFL will be adopting
the name Power Reading for its
reading classes starting immediately.
Power Reading classes follow the
Evidence-Based Reading Instruction,
or EBRI, as the approach to teaching
reading designed to deliver effective
instruction.
EBRI practices use of research-based
data as well as results identified
through a consensus among expert
practitioners who monitor the
outcomes. This is according to the
California Adult Literacy Professional
Development Project (CALPRO).
While reading, CALPRO explained,
is the most basic of skills, teaching
it is a complex process that is often
misunderstood.
EBRI specifies the evidence-based
assessment and instructional practices
to be used. The EBRI method requires
an initial diagnostic assessment in
each of the four components of reading:
alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary, and
comprehension. Based on the learner’s
assessment results, the instructor
designs lessons that deliver direct
and explicit instruction; explanation,
demonstration, guided practice, and
independent practice; and regular
monitoring of student progress with
feedback.
Rhonda Serafin, AEFL Manager,
added that Community Education’s
instructors have already been trained
and have established this methodology
in their classes, having attended a
rigorous six-day STAR workshop
series offered by the Adult Learning
Resource Center. The workshop
allows for a smooth implementation
of the EBRI approach as AEFL
teachers carry out the changes in their
classrooms.
“Our students will not see any change,”
Serafin said. “EBRI will allow us to
explore ways to enhance and expand
our class offerings.”
In its position statement, The
International Reading Association
maintained that in its simplest
form, EBRI means that a particular
program or collection of instructional
practices has a record of success.
It further said that there is reliable,
trustworthy, and valid evidence to
suggest that when the program is used
with a particular group of children,
the children can be expected to make
adequate gains in reading achievement.
The mission of the Foundation is to secure and allocate financial and other community resources that support lifelong
learning opportunities provided by District 214 Community Education.
CLOSER LOOK
Natya Dance Theater Performs at FVEC
Board of Trustees
Carl Anfenson, Chair
Sr. Vice President, Commercial Banking
MB Financial Bank
Glenn Scoggins, Vice Chair
Community Volunteer
Miriam “Mimi” Cooper, Secretary
Attorney, Law Office of Miriam Cooper
John Eilering, Treasurer
President, Mount Prospect State Bank
Maureen Jennings McKenna
Immediate Past Chair
Regional Human Resources Manager,
ZF Services, North America
Rebecca Eaglin, Manager/Asst. VP
Harris Bank
Michael Field, Director
District 214 Community Education
Jim Galetano, Vice President
Circulation, Paddock Publications
Tony Guido, General Manager
The Natya Dance Theatre, under the artistic leadership of Hema Rajagopalan,
performed at Forest View Educational Center in late November. The Chicago-based
company is one of the most critically acclaimed and culturally treasured dance
companies in the country. Rooted in Bharata Natyam, one of India’s great classical
dance theater forms, Natya offered the audience contemporary interpretations by
incorporating dynamic body movement, rhythmic footwork, hand gestures and facial
expressions to convey meaning and emotion that create rasa, the aesthetic experience
that transforms the audience. And transformed they were!
Arlington Heights Ford
Eileen Hart, Principal
Rolling Meadows High School
Cliff Higley, President
U Keep Us in Stitches
Catherine Lee, President
CDL & Associates, Inc.
John O’Connor, Attorney
Drost Kivlahan McMahon & O’Connor, LLC
David Schuler, Superintendent
Township High School District 214
Kris Stabler, Vice President
Community Relations,
Arlington Park Racecourse
Nanci Vanderweel, Supervisor
Elk Grove Township
Storytelling Time!
It’s always a treat for the children of the Women’s & Children’s Center at Forest
View Educational Center in Arlington Heights when members of the Rotary Club
of Arlington Heights come for a visit. It only means one thing: loads of fun! The
children eagerly break into small groups and listen intently as members of the
Rotary Club read stories to them. One book is never enough!
Jason Wynkoop, Program Coordinator
OMNI Youth Services
Nelia Bernabe, Program Supervisor/
Resource Development
District 214 Community Education
FOUNDATION News is published three times each year by the District 214 Community Education Foundation. Our office is located at 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005.
Phone: 847-718-7708/7799 Fax: 847-718-7713
Michael S. Field, Director
Nelia Bernabe, Editor
NEWS
Award Recognizes Community Ed Manager’s Dedication
A Well-Deserved Award!
Rhonda Serafin, Adult Education &
Family Literacy Manager of District
214 Community Education receives her
award at the annual IACEA Conference
in Springfield, IL, last spring. She is
shown in the picture with her husband
John. Congratulations, Rhonda!
The Illinois Adult and Continuing Educators
Association (IACEA) bestowed one of its
top honors to one of District 214 Community
Education’s very own last spring.
Rhonda Serafin, Adult Education & Family
Literacy Manager, won the very prestigious
Outstanding Adult Education Director of the
Year Award at the IACEA Conference in
Springfield, IL, last May 10.
The award, according to IACEA, is given to
recognize an administrator who has shown
a commitment to the Adult Education
profession, has made an outstanding
contribution toward fostering the concept of
education as a process continuing throughout
life, and has demonstrated contributions to
adult education at the community, state, and/
or national levels.
“I was honored and gratified to be nominated
and supported by my staff, our students and
volunteers, and by my colleagues in adult
education and literacy for selecting me from
among the nominees,” Serafin said.
Serafin also said that she enjoys her role in
Community Education for the past 25 years.
Police Officer Talks Safety to ESL Students
Officer Douglas Hajek, Crime Prevention
Officer of the Arlington Heights Police
Department, spoke on safety and crime
prevention to the students of three English
as a Second Language (ESL) classes of
District 214 Community Education at
Forest View Educational Center in mid
November.
Office Hajek covered topics on calling
911, home alone safety, home safety,
personal safety, traffic laws, traffic stops,
and scam safety. The ESL students
submitted their questions in advance and
Officer Hajek responded to them during
his visit.
Over 50 students representing 16
different countries attended Officer
Hajek’s presentation. Jeanne Williams,
Head Instructor of ESL and Workplace
Skills at Community Education
identified these countries as Belarus,
Bulgaria, China, Guatemala, India,
Japan, Kenya, Macedonia, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Poland, Romania, South
Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
“Our students really appreciate Officer
Officer Douglas Hajek is shown talking safety
and crime prevention to the English as a Second
Language (ESL) students of District 214
Community Education at Forest View Educational
Center.
Hajek’s presentation. We are grateful for
his time and attention in addressing the
importance of crime prevention for many of
our adult ESL students,” Williams said.
Officer Hajek also discussed the Internet,
Facebook and Cyberbullying. In cases of
cyberbullying, he advised not to reply, to copy
the messages, and to call 911 if threats are made.
Officer Hajek gave out burglary-prevention
tips that include placing house numbers in
“I view it as providing vision and direction to
the program, facilitating the process for my
staff to accomplish the program’s objectives,
and advocating for our students to receive
the best possible education that we can give
them,” she explained.
Linda Cesario, Rotary District 6440 Literacy
Committee Chair, describes Serafin as a
pillar of the community. “Her devotion to
creating lifelong educational opportunities
continues to earn her accolades from area
leaders, service organizations, and residents
as well as from the students she has pledged
to serve,” Cesario said.
Ewa Crowe, Community Education
Citizenship Coordinator and Head Instructor,
has this to say. “Rhonda is the perfect
example of a good coach, who will make her
players see what they can become rather than
what they are. Her good deeds have touched
so many lives. She changed mine, forever.”
Mike Field, Director of Community
Education, added, “Rhonda is a tremendous
asset to our Community Education program
and no one is more deserving of this award.”
a clearly visible location from the street,
using motion-sensor lights on rear
and sides of residence, using auxiliary
lighting for dark places in the yard, and
much more.
He went over car safety seats and
booster seat regulations. He said that it
used to be recommended that children
should be rear facing until at least
1-year-old and 20 lbs. Now, he said, the
child should be rear facing for as long
as possible usually until the weight and
height limits of the car seat are exceeded.
Officer Hajek also touched on the topic
of international driving. He told the ESL
students that drivers moving to Illinois
can use their valid driver’s license from
their home state or country for 90 days
unless one does not intend to become a
permanent resident.
Officer Hajek said he truly looks
forward to his presentations at FVEC.
He finds pleasure in meeting the
students and providing them with
answers. “The ESL presentation is
my favorite. Everyone gets something
out of it because it’s based on their
questions. Their questions are excellent
and end up being important to almost
everyone in the class,” he said.
SPOTLIGHT
2011 Online Auction...Holiday Gift Shopping With A Heart!
THANK YOU to our DONORS for making the 2011 Online Auction a success!
U Keep Us in Stitches • Pinstripes,
Inc. • Medieval Times • Tony
Abruscato and the Flower Show
Productions, Inc. • Judy Abruscato
• Wheeling MB Financial Bank
• John Barleycorn Restaurant •
Northwest Suburban Community Concert
Association • Chef Ping Restaurant • Jim
Jarvis/Paramount Theater in Aurora
• Anthony Soskich • Audra Odzana/
Metropolis Performing Arts Center •
Ric Munoz/Mago Grill and Cantina •
La Tasca Tapas Restaurant • Rob Roy
Golf Course • Old Orchard Country
Club • The Arboretum Club • Chris M.
Snider/Wild Goose Cafe • Mt. Prospect
Golf Club • Arlington Lakes Golf Club
• Arlington Heights Park District •
Buffalo Grove Golf Club • Buffalo
Grove Park District • Brett Gaylord/
Village Bar and Grill • Chevy Chase
Country Club and
Traditions at
Chevy Chase Golf Course • Northwest
Community Hospital Wellness Center
• Advanced Dermatology and Skinfo
• Misano Salon and Spa • Community
Education Travel • Hostmark Hospitality
Group • Carnivale Restaurant •
The Bricton Group • DoubleTree by
Hilton Chicago - Arlington Heights •
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention
Center • Karen Meyer • James C.
Perkins • Barb and John Bergquist •
Comfort Suites - Schaumburg • Costco Schaumburg • Ala Carte Entertainment
• Levy Restaurants • Parmida Home
Furnishings - South Barrington • Tony
Guido • Arlington Heights Ford • Cherie
Uricek • Jay Crihfield • Dora Travaglio
• John and Ian Brennan • John Eilering •
Mt. Prospect State Bank • Prospect
Heights Park District • Becky Eaglin
• BMO Harris Bank • Carl Anfenson
• MB Financial Bank • Kris Stabler
• Arlington Park Racecourse • Jim
Galetano • Daily Herald • Maureen
Jennings McKenna • Mimi Cooper
• Auction Merchandise Source •
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants
• Bryan Eitz • Pat Eitz • Steve May/
Wheeling High School • Lisa DaRocha/
Rolling Meadows High School • Amy
Mariani/Elk Grove High School • Kim
Carpenter/Prospect High School •
Carol Burlinski/Buffalo Grove High
School • Mt. Prospect Park District •
Cliff Higley • Cathy Miller • Mt. Prospect
Parks Foundation • Hotel Cass - Chicago
• Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza • River
Trails Park District • Main Street Opera
To our friends and supporters, THANK YOU for placing your bids and for your Online Auction purchases!
SPOTLIGHT
Online Auction Draws Support from Local Artist
The Online Auction has found a strong
supporter in the person of local artist
Anthony Soskich of Arlington Heights.
For two years now, Mr. Soskich has
continued his support for the auction
by donating pieces from his prized oil
painting collection.
Mr. Soskich generously donated two oil
paintings that drew rousing bids this year;
he donated three last year.
An Austrian-born artist, Mr. Soskich
immigrated to the United States as a
child and settled in the old Lill Avenue
neighborhood of Chicago. As a young
child, he developed a love for the arts and
went on to receive his degree in Fine Arts
and History from North Park College in
Chicago.
Through the years, his style speaks of his
passion and he considers plein air and studio
painting with acrylics and oil colors as his
first and foremost love. He uses the glazing
method which allows him to “capture the
light,” enhance and create a vibrancy that
is representative of his current work in the
impressionalism/reality style.
“Being an artist is an essential part of my
life. Painting is a very personal adventure
and I feel pleased when others are moved
and enjoy the experience,” he says. “This
is how I grow and develop as an artist, and
how I gauge my success.”
His attempt to communicate and evoke
emotions can be seen in his every work
of art. “Some wear their hearts on their
sleeves, I put my heart and mind out on
the canvas for all to see,” he explains.
When he is not painting, Mr. Soskich is
surrounded by family and friends, and
splits his time between his homes in
Arlington Heights and Williams Bay, WI.
Daughter Dawn Moore happily shares her
thoughts. “My father is a brilliant painter.
He has been painting for years and I really
love his Lake Geneva paintings. I’m
really proud of his work,” she says.
His daughter-in-law Julie Soskich
describes him as a very passionate person
in anything he does. “He’s a wonderful
grandfather and his grandchildren are his
life. He especially enjoys them taking an
interest in art as well and has taken the
time to teach them what he knows,” she
says.
Aside from his family, Mr. Soskich
considers teaching weekly art classes as
most satisfying. He says that this allows
him to give back to others by passing
on his love and talent to bring out the
creativity of his students, young and old.
As an artist, he says, you continue to find
The top two paintings were donated by artist
Anthony Soskich for the 2011 Online Auction.
Dianne Benezra, bottom photo, poses with Mr.
Soskich after winning his beautiful painting at
the Appreciation Dinner given by Community
Education last year.
new ways and tools of applications and this
process is never-ending. The process to
develop the painting is what makes it
exciting for him. “My goal is not only to
become an artist but also a painter. The artist
helps change the course of history while the
painter records it,” he states.
Brace yourself for the next Online Auction...
there might be an Anthony Soskich painting
waiting just for you!
Online Auction Winner Lands Daughter a Walk-on Role in A Christmas Carol
Theater Debut is a Dream Come True!
The Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights welcomes Haley
Slusher with a special sign, left picture, during the Dec. 11 show of A Christmas
Carol. Haley is seen, clockwise, in the Metropolis dressing room, with the cast of
A Christmas Carol and with Charlie Beck, managing director of the Metropolis.
“Haley had a dream come true
experience performing on the
stage at Metropolis. She has
acted in school and other local
plays and always wanted to be
on a professional stage. All
of the actors, costume people,
stage director and staff at
Metropolis were so kind and
helpful to her. I thank them
and District 214 Community
Education
Foundation
for
offering this opportunity through
the fundraising auction. It was
a great experience.” - Donna
Slusher, mother of Haley
Mt. Prospect Businessman Joins Community Ed Foundation
He may be a businessman and a longtine resident of Mount
Prospect but this new addition to the Community Education
Foundation Board of Trustees is no stranger to nonprofits and
how they work.
Meet the distinguished Cliff Higley whose middle name,
“busy,” is really an understatement! When approached by
Mike Field, Director of District 214 Community Education, it
didn’t take much to convince him to jump on “Board!”
“I am joining the Community Education Foundation Board
because I would like to help in continuing the good work that
the Foundation is doing in bringing valuable services to our
community,” Higley said. “I believe that I will be able to bring
my energy to the table in areas of fundraising such as the golf
outing.”
Higley’s nonprofit experience includes volunteering his
time and resources to the For Julie Foundation, a nonprofit
for leukemia research, and the Brian Recchia Foundation, a
nonprofit for heart research. He has served for over 30 years
Cliff Higley
at Lutheran Church and School in many capacities such as
the School Board, Board of Elders, and Board of Stewardship. For the last 20 years, he was the Chairman of the
Congregation, serving not only the church but the school as well with children from Pre K - 8th Grade.
His chamber connection includes the Mt. Prospect Chamber of Commerce Board where he just ended his six years of
service and where he was president in 2008. Higley ushered in the New Year with a bang - more responsibilities to add
to his already busy schedule! He starts his tenure as president of the Arlington Heights Chamber Board in January 2012.
Higley is happily married to Diane. They have three children and eight grandchildren. He loves to play golf, enjoys boating,
and hopes one day to travel more and retire to Florida for the winter months. Higley and his wife own U Keep Us in Stitches
in Mount Prospect which they opened in 1998. His entrepreneurial spirit dates all the way back to the 1960s when he started
out as a stock boy for the largest independent grocery store in Chicago and worked his way to becoming the assistant
manager. In the 1980s, Higley opened his first business, Michelle’s Originals, Inc., followed by A Cut Above Chicago, Inc.
which was the first contract apparel cutting shop in Chicago. Being the ultimate businessman, Higley says that he loves all
gadgets and does not know if he could live without them.
Here’s one thing to remember the next time you’re at a fundraiser. Keep your eyes out for Cliff, who wears a ready smile on
his face, at the bar. You might just find him there brushing up his old bartending skills! You see he’s no stranger to bartending
either as he once worked as a “call bartender,” a waiter, a captain, and a maitre’d/manager at French restaurants. He takes
pride in the fact that while working as a restaurant manager, he received many accolades including Best French Restaurant
in Chicago for two years in a row from James Ward and his restaurant being chosen as one of Chicago’s 10 Best Restaurants
by the Chicago Magazine.
What else can’t he not do, you ask?
“It’s great to have Cliff as a member of our Community Education Foundation Board,” Field said. “His experience in nonprofits
as well as his ties with the different chambers are huge pluses for our Board. We are very excited to work with Cliff and we
welcome him.” Higley’s candidacy to the general membership of the Community Education Foundation Board of Trustees
was unanimously approved in November.
Higley considers sharing his faith with others as one of the things that gives him great pleasure and considers his father his
greatest role model. “He was the nicest man that I have ever known,” he reminisced. “My goal has always been to be more
like him. I also had a sister who had Downs Syndrome who taught me so much about life.”
Well said, Cliff! And, what a great addition to the Community Education Foundation Board!
Editor’s Note:
Since Cliff Higley’s addition to the Board in November, the Community Education Foundation has welcomed two more
new trustees - Tony Guido, general manager of Arlington Heights Ford, and Eileen Hart, principal of Rolling Meadows
High School. Watch for their feature stories in the next issue of the Foundation News.
Building Learning Communities
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Community Education Foundation.
We change lives.
We are committed to serving over 50,000 participants each year through
District 214 Comunity Education programs and services. Your donation
will help support our Adult English as a Second Language program,
The Women’s & Chidren’s Center, Kids on Track, Family Literacy, Adult
Basic Education, Cultural & Peforming Arts, and Intergenerational and
Older Adult programs.
Please mail your donation to:
District 214 Community Education Foundation
2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
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