Prairiewood Elementary School Safety Patrol students are on duty every day for the benefit of their fellow students. First-grade dual-language teacher Allison Ehardt is adviser for the group, which she revived in 2021 to give students opportunities to show responsibility and build a positive school community. The program is open to fourth- and fifth-graders. There […]
Gretchen Sebastian spent two years carefully crafting “Are You Ready for It?” – the tale of a Jewish teenager escaping Germany while trying to rescue her sister. “No one should have to go through something like that just because they believe in something that you don’t believe in,” Gretchen said. The Prairiewood Elementary School fifth-grader […]
Jared Skorburg retires this year after holding positions as teacher and administrator in several districts. He came to District 200 in 2006 as Westwood Elementary School principal for five years and Prairiewood Elementary School principal for the past 11 years. Before serving Woodstock students, he taught in District 15 in Palatine and advanced to assistant […]
Several years ago, Prairiewood Elementary School secretary Carol Cerny had an idea for a service project at her school. She was not sure whether it was appropriate for a secretary to ask for funds from the District 200 Education Foundation’s Impact Grants. Cerny proposed her idea to Principal Jared Skorburg, who encouraged her to apply. […]
Chuck Jones’ portraits of cultural icons have been featured in a New York City exhibition, but the Prairiewood Elementary School art teacher is eager to display his works at the Woodstock Opera House this month. “I’m more excited about this show than I was for New York because I didn’t know anybody there,” Jones said. […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.