A 1981 graduate of Arlington High School, Mary Larson completed her Bachelor’s Degree in The Teaching of English at the University of Illinois and began her career at Elk Grove High School almost 40 years ago. During all that time, Mary has been a true friend of the Arts. I remember Friday afternoons as an Undergraduate, The Arts would sometimes be low on cash and Mary would always let the Arts borrow a few dollars until its next payday. In the late Nineties, when the Arts desperately needed a donor kidney, Mary stepped up to...
I kid.
I have known Mary Larson for more than 40 years and I can think of no better recipient for this “Friend of the Arts” award. We attended U of I together in the early 80’s and started teaching at EGHS when we were barely older than the Seniors in our elective classes. Mary and I were both hired by Richard Calisch, the legendary English Division Head who actually invented Arts Unlimited! According to legend, Mary was the last teacher he ever hired before he retired, which must mean that when he found Mary... they broke the mold!
I kid.
Mary’s original extra-curricular activity was the school newspaper, an enterprise she led for almost three decades, encouraging young journalists in the art of writing, budding editors in the art of editing, neophyte designers in the art of paste-up and layout, and nascent cartoonists in the art of... Art. I remember looking forward to each new issue of The Guardian back then because it was just so darn good. During her tenure as adviser, The Guardian won numerous awards and honors, which were all testaments to the quality of Mary’s stewardship. She always inspired her students’ joy and passion—making The Guardian a delight to read.
Mary also coached and mentored young writers as a founding member of Elk Grove High School’s writing center, Write Here, the first in the district. Whether designing assignments and assessments for teachers in other disciplines or engaging with countless students in one-on-one editing sessions, Mary kept the written art alive and kicking in EG’s academic rodeo. The writing center also won numerous awards and Mary was a big part of what made that little room so special and awards-worthy.
Write On, EG’s creative writing club, found an eager sponsor in Mary, and Wednesday afternoons soon became a refuge for the hearts and minds of the school’s poets and authors. As an offshoot of the creative writing club, Mary organized twice yearly Poetry Slams, which were wonderful, rowdy affairs held after school in the library. I was lucky enough to judge some of these fun competitions before I retired. She also assumed the mantle of Editor-in-Chief for the school’s literary magazine, e.g. It was often on the editorial board of that august publication, and I must say that some of the best mornings in my entire career where those that saw the editors meeting up to “compare scores” and pick the pieces for publication. My memory is that Mary and I were usually aligned in our tastes in student poetry: hardly any fistfights! And Mary was a gracious victor in each.
I kid.
Mary Larson served on the Arts Unlimited Committee for more than a decade, assuring that young people will continue being exposed to and immersed in art forms hitherto unknown to them. If we could somehow total the hours that Mary has spent on this worthwhile enterprise (heading the school newspaper, creative writing club, and literary magazine; planning Arts Unlimited’s Journalism Days and Creative Writing Days; organizing Chicago Shakespeare Theater field trips; attending Elk Grove drama, variety show, Orchesis, and musical performances; and holding hundreds of one-on-one student writing conferences) it wouldn’t even come close to quantifying the debt of gratitude the D214 community owes to Mary Larson, a master teacher and a true Friend of the Arts.
About that, I do not kid. --John Bottiglieri
Thirty three years ago when he began teaching at Hersey HS, Kyle hit the ground running. He immediately began not only coaching speech but directed his first play, The Curious Savage.His passion and dedication to the arts at Hersey, as well as D214, has continued throughout his career. Now, as he prepares to retire, he certainly is deserving of recognition for all his efforts on behalf of D214 students, staff and parents.
He directed two plays a year from 1990 through 1998 when he added the musical to his directing repertoire.For much of the time from 1990, Kyle directed all three productions a year and coached speech simultaneously.
His directorial resume is impressive and includes taking two musicals to the All State Theatre Festival. These musicals were adjudicated and selection was over productions throughout the state.His goal has been to expose students to the educational aspects of theatre, always challenging them to learn.
As a result of these impressive productions, Kyle was honored to be selected to direct the All State Musical, Les Miserables, in 2007.
Kyle also directed a staff melodrama which is a highly regarded memory for all staff involved.He directed staff who had never done any theatre to participate and to a person, they all became devotees of the theatre program at Hersey.
In 2009, Kyle became the JHHS Fine & Performing Arts Coordinator.To that position, Kyle brought a whole new level of expertise.He really understood all aspects of the fine arts teachers and their individual challenges.He has worked hard to create a collegiality among them, encouraging interdisciplinary curriculum and activities.
He created a D214 Idol competition, inviting students from throughout the district to participate. It was a huge success, won by Haley Reinhart, a Wheeling student who has gone on to have considerable success professionally.
Always looking for ways to get students excited about the arts, Kyle even was part of a District art project where teachers were asked to come to Forest View and spend the day painting. His picture from that day still hangs in the fine arts area to this day.
He has encouraged and helped to facilitate the efforts of the Music Department to encourage middle and elementary school students to become involved in programs at Hersey.
His love and devotion to the arts has permeated his entire career, and he leaves at legacy at Hersey and the District that will be felt for many years to come.