Stephanie Markham

Reporter at Kankakee Daily Journal

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Articles

Momence mother-daughter duo get involved in local government

4 days ago | shawlocal.com | Stephanie Markham

MOMENCE – Hearing the way they make each other laugh, Natalie Ojeda and Lizbeth Varela could be mistaken for best friends, but the mother-daughter bond they share is undeniable. The love and support between the two women has been key for the duo getting involved in local government. They hope to inspire others to do the same.
Bradley Elementary School District 61 Board seats new member

6 days ago | shawlocal.com | Stephanie Markham

BRADLEY – A new member was sworn in to serve his first term on the Bradley Elementary School District 61 Board during a special meeting this past week. Ryan Barrie ran unopposed for a four-year term in the April 1 consolidated election. He takes the place of Mary Fisher, who did not run for another term. Fisher had been on the board for 10 years.
Teacher Amber Burks connects with kids through art

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Stephanie Markham

Elementary school art is more than coloring inside the lines. In Amber Burks’ classroom at Lorenzo Smith School, art is resilience. Art is self-expression. Art is a history lesson. Art is critical thinking. Art is anything her students want it to be. “We do a lot with a little and stuff that the kids are really proud of,” Burks said.
Coach Josh McDaniel values inclusion on court, in classroom

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Stephanie Markham

Josh McDaniel, fifth grade teacher at Liberty Intermediate School and junior high basketball and track coach for Bourbonnais Elementary School District, has always felt “the best coaches are people who can teach.”When he thinks back to the coaches in his life who made the biggest impact, they were the ones whose connections in the classroom carried over to the athletic field. They were the ones who taught not just academics but also what was important in life.
Thank You Teachers: Daily Journal

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Adam Tumino |Mason Schweizer |Stephanie Markham |Kevin Newberry

A tribute to education's local heroes Daily Journal/Shaw Local News Network Allan Wills keeps a busy schedule at Gardner-South Wilmington, both as a math teacher and through his involvement in multiple sports and extracurriculars. In her sixth year as girls volleyball coach and PE teacher at her alma mater, Bradley-Bourbonnais' Leigh Reiniche has added co-teaching the school's adapted PE class to her resume.
Teen brings Gold Star Families Memorial to Bourbonnais

2 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Stephanie Markham

BOURBONNAIS – The images on the back of the newly-erected Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in Marcotte Park symbolize four ideals of military service – homeland, family, patriot and sacrifice. Though all of the concepts hold significance, one image etched into the black-granite surface is closer to Alexis McCullough’s heart than the rest. The image representing “family” shows Alexis as a little girl walking hand-in-hand with her dad, Col. Mark McCullough, in his Army uniform. Col.
Election nets no changes to Bourbonnais School Board

2 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Stephanie Markham

BOURBONNAIS – Five members swore an oath to continue to serve on the Bourbonnais Elementary School Board this week. There will be no new faces on the board, however, as all who earned seats in the April 1 consolidated election were incumbents. Officer positions will also remain the same. During its Tuesday reorganization meeting, the board voted to keep longtime member Jayne Raef in her role as board president.
Bourbonnais schools back in session today

2 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Stephanie Markham

BOURBONNAIS — Bourbonnais Elementary students are back in class today. District 53 announced transportation has been secured and school would be in session as scheduled. School was canceled Thursday due to the damaging of 21 school buses in a theft of catalytic converters at the district’s bus maintenance facility along Career Center Road near Liberty Intermediate School.
UPDATE: Bourbonnais school officials working to restore transportation

2 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Stephanie Markham

BOURBONNAIS — Bourbonnais Elementary School District officials were left scrambling after the theft of catalytic converters from the district’s bus fleet forced the cancellation of school Thursday. Late Thursday morning, Superintendent Adam Ehrman could not yet confirm whether or not school would be in session Friday. Updates would be forthcoming later in the day, he said.
Bradley schools see attendance improvements

3 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Stephanie Markham

BRADLEY – Bradley Elementary schools have seen some attendance improvements this school year after ramping up efforts to combat chronic absenteeism. Bradley Elementary School District 61 had a rate of 25% chronic absenteeism – when students miss 10% or more of school days in a year, regardless of having an excuse – on its 2024 Illinois School Report Card. At a stakeholder meeting in January, administrators noted the district set a goal of reducing that rate by 5% within the year.