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December Volunteer of the Month: Suzanne Kirkwood, Frank C. Whiteley School PTA, Environmental Committee Co-Chair
Suzanne Kirkwood has been involved with the Frank C. Whiteley PTA for the past four years, volunteering for a variety of projects, including kindergym, art awareness, and Market Day. But her primary interest since she first became active in the PTA has been the group’s Environmental Education Committee, which she co-chairs with Debbie McGuire.
“We started with waste-free lunches. We still have those once a month, but now the program has developed so that we have a full year of environmental learning and activities,” Suzanne explains. Among the many environmentally oriented projects Suzanne and Debbie have taken on are creation of a bulletin board in the school lobby featuring the benefits of recycling, use of an environmental theme in this year’s PTA/school calendar, introduction of a student recognition program highlighting students and how they help the environment, and a planned Earth Day celebration in April which will include neighborhood cleanups coordinated with the Village of Hoffman Estates, and a visit to the school by the Field Museum’s Soilmobile, sponsored by a grant to the PTA from the SWANCC (Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County).
The committee also works closely with a new student group, CAPS (Conservation and Protection Specialists) sponsored by fourth-grade teachers Marty Zack, Nancy Johnson, and Alyssa Dunne. Activities have included nature/clean-up walks and planting a butterfly garden. Of the 25 CAPS members, Suzanne points out proudly, 14 are earning their “Illinois Recycles” badges from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.
“They (Suzanne and Debbie) are responsible for the success of our program at Whiteley,” said their nominators. “They continue to educate students, parents, and teachers in every aspect of recycling and environmental protection.”
“We have lots of fun with the kids,” says Suzanne. “It’s wonderful to hear their questions and see their awe.” Her growing interest in the topic led to her enrollment in an environmental course at Harper College this year, which she says is giving her a broader perspective. It’s a real change of pace from her career. Suzanne earned a degree in nursing and a master’s in health administration from Rush in Chicago and worked 13 years at United Healthcare, primarily in the quality management department. A year and a half ago, she decided to “take a break,” and she’s enjoying having time to volunteer at school and spend with her children.
Suzanne and her husband George have two sons at Whiteley, Brian and Scott. Suzanne enjoys reading all types of literature and being outside doing things with her kids. She happily admits to being a soccer and baseball mom!
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