Press Release: 02-24-2012

Waukegan Public Schools teacher Ms. Julie Ahern was honored this week during Congressman Robert Dold’s 2012 Community Leadership Awards.

Ms. Ahern, a second grade teacher at Cooke Magnet School, was named one of three finalists in the “Excellence in Education” category during Congressman Dold’s inaugural awards ceremony on February 21. Other education finalists included George Peternel from Northwestern University and category winner, Dr. Michael Welch, President of Rosalind Franklin University. Waukegan High School College Counselor, Mr. Chuck Gutman was a top 10 finalist for the award.

Ms. Ahern, a 19-year veteran at Cooke, was selected as a top three finalist from a group of nearly 30 nominations throughout the 10th Congressional District. She was nominated for the award by her collogues at Cooke, who praised Ms. Ahern’s dedication to the students at Cooke, and the exceptional behavior and academic aptitude of her students through the years.

Colleagues also praised Ms. Ahern’s unprecedented ability to secure grants for Cooke. Since 2007, Mrs. Ahern has helped secure more than $75,000 in grants for the school in the form of grant writing, and online voting campaigns.

“We are all very excited for Julie. We have nicknamed her our ‘Grant Queen’ because she has brought in much needed financial, technological and material resources for our school. Julie has also encouraged many other staff in our building to go out and apply for grants,” said Cooke Principal Ms. Nan Heim.

Email Contact: nalajakis@wps60.org

Ms. Ahern poses with Congressman Robert Dold (L) and Dr. Michael Welch (R).