Inaugural Innovator Awards honor Wilmette teachers

Wendy Allen has been an educator for more than 25 years; though, not always in the classroom.

For a 14-year span, Allen moved into administration, becoming a school principal. But she eventually realized that the classroom was where she belonged.

So standing in front of her peers on Feb. 19 receiving recognition for her work in the classroom was an emotional moment.

“It’s just so touching and for me and validates that I’m in the right career,” Allen said. “This is what I love doing, as one of my students said, I love being in the classroom with my students every day. To hear that from students and be called up here just means the world to me.”

Allen was one of seven Wilmette District 39 educators awarded by the D39 Education Foundation during a first-year ceremony Feb. 19 at the Lakeview Center in Gillson Park.

To begin the event, Foundation Chairperson Beth Karnes explained that while her organization annually supports projects (via grants) throughout the school district, her team also wanted to recognize the district educators who make it all happen.

The foundation came up with the Innovative Educators Awards, which launched in October 2025 with a nomination process. Parents, students and district teachers were asked to nominate a district educator who demonstrates innovate teaching and learning practices that enable educational excellence.

Nearly 100 nominations came in for 48 D39 staff members, each of whom in December received a surprise congratulatory visit from Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli, their school principal and foundation members.

The nominees were invited to the Feb. 19 ceremony, where a winner was announced from each of the six D39 schools, plus an additional winner of an Impact Award. The selections were: Julie Mirabelli (Central Elementary School), Anna Havala (McKenzie Elementary), Wendy Allen (Harper Elementary), Maggie Kluck (Romona Elementary), Katie Fox (Highcrest Middle), George Nelson (Wilmette Junior High) and Amy Freese (Impact Award).

With each announcement, Karnes would read from that teacher’s nominations, drawing tears from many of the honorees.

Freese’s nominations came from her colleagues, whom Freese — a special education coordinator — trains on crisis management and student care.

“Amy didn’t just introduce a new training program; she led a cultural shift that is fundamentally changing how we meet students in crisis,” wrote one D39 teacher.

When she learned she was an honoree, Freese began to read the nomination submission and had to stop.

“When I saw what was (in there), I put it away because it was a little emotional,” she said. “It’s my passion and something I care a lot about, so I got teary eyed.

“It’s pretty amazing that they have this D39 Impact Award. My niche is to support students who may have behavior that impacts their ability to be with their peers, their ability to access their education, but I thought it was pretty cool that it was brought to the surface.”

Before the ceremony concluded, Karnes thanked all the educators in attendance:

“We are grateful for your hard work, your innovative ideas to grow our children as learners and for your passion for building a community of belonging for our children,” Karnes said.

District 39 Education Foundation Innovator Award nominees

• Central Elementary: Fran Engstrom, Susan Flachsbart, Julie Mirabelli, Cat Monaco, Jessica Sutker and Natalie Vanderloo;
• Harper Elementary: Wendy Allen, Kristin Brown, Emma Russell, Lindsay Shea and Catherine Tromp;
• McKenzie Elementary: Laura Astley, Anna Havala, Kandace McCarthy, Brittany Rodriguez and Courtney Ryan;
• Romona Elementary: Carly Bertz, Erin Carpenter, Maggie Donner, Sheila Gorney, Maggie Kluck, John Lee, Justyna Lustombo, Marykate Sullivan, Evie Tiotis and Alicia Wiechert;
• Highcrest Middle: Christian Brady, Alexandra Carlson, Aaron Dubnow, Alison Eakley, Katie Fox, Dr. Christina Heyde, Taylor Maney, Sarah Mysel and Gretchen Towson;
• Wilmette Junior High: Marissa Barnette, Stephen Boeckman, Brian Chapp, Jill Forti, Amy Freese, Michael Larsen, George Nelson, Dr. Peter Ower, Eric Senne, Sylvia Sukenic and Jennifer Wood.

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