North Cook News

Maine Township School District Superintendent Ken Wallace thanked three district employees whose quick thinking likely saved the life of a student who was choking.

"And I know none of you would say that you were heroic. You were just doing what you needed to do in the moment," Wallace said at the Sept. 7 meeting of the Board of Education. "But we think you were heroic and we certainly want to recognize you for helping to have a really positive outcome for one of our students. So thank you on behalf of the Board of Education.”

Wallace recognized Manny Hernandez, Kaylla Juarez, and Miguel Samano for their actions during a luncheon where a student worker started choking on a piece of food. Hernandez applied the Heimlich maneuver, and the three then helped support the student and found a way to expel the blockage safely.

Also during the meeting, Wallace announced that Maine West’s GSA group was the recipient of a $10,000 grant. The group is focused on being a safe and welcoming space for all students. It celebrated a successful pride event in June of 2022. The grant was awarded by the It Gets Better Foundation who awarded a grant to an organization in each of the 50 states. The money will allow the group to expand on its already successful pride celebration each June.

The board also recognized Ashley Kilburg for her service. She was elected to the school board in April of 2021 and served as a member of the policy, and building and grounds committees, served as chair of the Education Committee, and served on the Illinois Association of School Boards. She left the board after the August 2022 meeting as she had moved out of the district.