Summit Hill District 161 Introduces Junior Board Members, Honors Special Educators

Summit Hill School District 161 Meeting | December 17, 2025

Article Summary: The Summit Hill District 161 Board officially seated two new 7th-grade junior board members and presented the monthly Summit Award to an Early Childhood team from Mary Drew Early Learning Center.

Student and Staff Recognition Key Points:

• Junior Members: Olivia Davis and Sean Stewart Jr. were seated as 7th-grade representatives.

• Student Voice: The junior members have already implemented a suggestion box at the junior high to gather student input.

• Summit Award: Sally Loies, Amy Angus, and Yumira Gonzalez were honored for their work in the Mary Drew preschool program.

• Community Service: Board reports highlighted Toys for Tots drives and pet supply collections across the district.

The Summit Hill School District 161 Board on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2025, welcomed its newest voices to the table: 7th-grade students Olivia Davis and Sean Stewart Jr.

The two were selected following an interview process in closed session. Unlike 8th-grade members, junior members serve as alternates and do not take an official oath, but they are invited to provide student perspectives during meetings. Davis and Stewart reported they have already begun holding lunchroom sessions with a suggestion box to “listen to the student community.”

The board also presented the Summit Award to the Early Childhood team of Sally Loies, Amy Angus, and Yumira Gonzalez. Director Kim Zilka nominated the trio for their “grace and a smile” while managing the preschool program at Mary Drew Early Learning Center.

“They are a collective calming force in a crazy world we call preschool,” the nomination stated, noting the team’s ability to handle the unique sensory and communication needs of the district’s youngest learners.

The meeting also featured a holiday performance by the Summit Hill Junior High Chamber Ensemble, directed by Kim Coughlin.