Woodstock Community School District 200 began a new tradition to honor exceptional employees and volunteers as it closes out the 2021-2022 school year by presenting 27 Difference Maker Awards to individuals whose efforts were recognized by their peers.

Employees at all 12 schools were asked to nominate colleagues for Difference Maker Awards — one certified staff member, such as teachers or social workers and one non-certified staff member such as office staff or associates among others. Nominees were then reviewed by a committee.

Superintendent Mike Moan said District 200 is blessed with hundreds of outstanding employees who put children first, but said it was a valuable exercise to ask staff members to lift up co-workers who led by example in their school buildings and to recognize those individuals.

“Education is best delivered by people who not only have a high skill set, but demonstrate how much they care day in, day out,” Moan said. “These award winners represent those qualities, which is what makes District 200 a special place to be.”

Moan said educators are fortunate to have a real opportunity to make a difference in children’s lives and leave a lasting positive impact on those children and the overall community.

Difference Maker winners were honored Tuesday, May 17 at Woodstock North High School. District administrative staff cooked and served honorees and their families along with administrative representatives from each school. Several District 200 Board of Education members also attended.

“As we celebrate the end of the year, this was a great  moment for the District 200 community to celebrate these individuals whom we all admire,” Moan said.

The 2022 Difference Maker Award winners are as follows:

D200 Difference Makers Award