News and Events

School Hero Awardees

DECEMBER

Christopher Butz

Social Studies Teacher/School Compliance Coordinator
St. Bartholomew School
 

Christopher Butz joined the St Bartholomew School staff in 2019 and has already made an impression on the community. One parent recalls how Mr. Butz “literally gave up his summer and met regularly with administration to lead a team and strategically develop a comprehensive written plan complete with diagrams, tables, schedules, etc.; and then collaborated and led a team of staff and volunteers in the implementation of the plan.” Christopher even took it upon himself to apply social distancing stickers and signage in the school’s two buildings to ensure all students, staff, and visitors knew the specific routes to travel.

Cathy Lillig

Fourth-grade Teacher
St. Catherine Laboure School
 

In her four years at St Catherine Laboure School, Cathy Lillig has taught third- and fourth-grade students. Fellow staff members recognize her as an extremely hard worker who “works tirelessly to meet all of her students' needs”. During quarantine, she provided her students help during school hours and after to make sure they did not fall behind. Over the summer, she developed a website and honed her Google Suite skills to provide her in-person and distance learning students the best possible learning experience. She makes sure all students are engaged and supervised.

Frank Ochoa

Spanish Teacher and Technology Coordinator
St. Cletus School
 

Frank Ochoa is no stranger to working hard in his faith community. He has been a catechist, lector and Eucharistic Minister for over 20 years and worked as a teacher, marketing director and technology coordinator. He is now in his second year teaching Spanish and in his first year as the technology teacher at St. Cletus School. One parent recalls “Mr. Ochoa joined our school last year and I cannot express enough how lucky we are to have him! He immediately brought back the joy and excitement of learning Spanish back to the students...he also took over as our TLC teacher this year with his immense knowledge of computers and technology.”

Paula Somers

Business Manager
St. Alexander School – Palos Heights
 

Paula Somers has worked at St. Alexander since February 2010. She has been fully committed to the COVID-19 protocols for the school and parish for the health and safety of the community. Besides helping with morning arrival and dismissal traffic flow, she is at every Mass, funeral, baptism and wedding that the parish conducts. Colleagues, students and parents nominated her for her dedication. An eighth grader says that Mrs. Somers “worked really hard to make our school safe so we could have in-person learning. She kept us all positive when our school had to close for two weeks in September. She keeps us safe every day.”