Posted on February 18, 2021 at 2:37 PM by Denise Cartina
"Sara Jane Hendren is an Emergency Room Physician at Edward Hospital. She leads with compassion and knowledge. She meets every challenge head on. She is on the front line. She has worked tirelessly to source PPE, fit test and take care of all around her during the pandemic. She has even worked to source PPE for dentists and other medical professional including one of my friend’s daughters out of state. She is a mom of three beautiful and compassionate kids and a wife. She lives in, works in and supports the Naperville community. She is someone you should know!"
Nominated by AnneMarie Pradel
Posted on February 18, 2021 at 2:35 PM by Denise Cartina
"Rose Peck grew up in Naperville. She was a child professional opera singer, gracing the stage of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and others while also honing her aptitude for science and technology. She continued to improve her skills at University of Rochester while earning a degree in Computer Science and Mathematics. After working at a Virginia software tech consulting company, Rose returned to Naperville to combine her love of story with her love of play and technology.
Her most positive personal change and most challenging obstacle was coming out as transgender. Coming to terms with the fact that she is a woman when others told her she was not was difficult. Raised as a boy, Rose is grateful her aptitude for science and technology was encouraged when many young cisgender girls were discouraged from pursuing science and math.
As a transgender woman, she has a unique perspective on womanhood, feminism, and sexism. With her partner, she is resisting the biases of the male-dominated gaming field by developing a tabletop role-playing game that aims to be inclusive, optimistic, and innovative while still feeling familiar. She is working on game design, software development, and learning how to run a business. She hopes her efforts will be inspiring to young trans women, attract more girls to the STEM field, and bring more females into the gaming world. Her company plans to launch by early 2021."
Nominated by Karen Peck
Posted on February 18, 2021 at 2:33 PM by Denise Cartina
"
I moved to Naperville in 1978, began my teaching career in District 203 in 1979, and retired in 2006. For nine of those twenty-seven years I served as the President of the Naperville Unit Education Association, 1987-1996. Although women comprise 76% of public school teachers, they are much more likely to be represented by men: I was one of only two women to ever hold the office of NUEA President.
During the course of my nine years as President, there was one contract (1991) we were unable to settle, even with federal mediation efforts. The issue which drove the discord revolved around health insurance benefits and it was, in the end, the issue that caused us to declare a strike, which lasted four days. The negotiated settlement was a fair compromise and we moved forward in a positive way.
As President, I did my best to build positive relationships with Board members, administrators and community leaders through my involvement with many organizations, including the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, not usually accustomed to hearing the voice of teachers. During my tenure as President, I was also elected to serve on the NEA Board of Directors, 1993-99.
Since my retirement, I have remained engaged with my Naperville community: Appointed, Naperville's Fair Housing Commission, 2006-2008. Candidate, State Representative, 2008. Candidate, Naperville Township Clerk, 2009. Elected, College of DuPage Board of Trustees, 2011-2017. Chairwoman, Naperville Township Democratic Organization, 2010-2016. Co-Founder, Indivisible Naperville, 2017-Present."