Chris Tornabene
Nominee: Christine Tornabene
Workplace: Ogle County Education Cooperative, Byron, IL 61010
Nominator: Terry Schuster, School Psychologist, PPS Supervisor: Ogle County Education Co-op
I am proud to present Chris Tornabene as nominee for the Ted Smith Illinois Practitioner of the Year award. She exemplifies the best qualities many of our young professionals have who are shaping the future of School Psychology in Illinois. She is nominated not only for what she has accomplished in the past – but also for what she represents for the future of our profession.
In her first year with the Ogle County Educational Co-op she became a leader within our active Student Assistance Teams – which extended itself into the implementation of problem solving methodology and RtI programming. With her assistance, the district received one of the state’s first IASPIRE implementation grants. She has continued to be instrumental in making the Problem Solving model work as smoothly as possible.
Chris created and presented in-services for the district’s teaching staff and administration and has gone the extra two miles in order to make this change to problem solving / RtI work. She has put forth a tremendous amount of time into each of her schools – often working until 5 pm each night of the week to moderate PS team discussions. She essentially stood in the gap to ensure staff did not feel overwhelmed by the transition – thus helping to avoid much of the staff resistance to implementing something as new and different as this.
In addition, each year Chris has been with us, she has accepted the responsibility of working as a supervisor of School Psychology students from NIU – with practicum students and interns. In this way, she has had a significant role in touching the future of our profession far outside of the boundaries of our single cooperative.
In conclusion, I can honestly say that Chris is leading the way in our cooperative in demonstrating the future role of School Psychology in Illinois, even as our cooperative is leading the way in implementation in rural northwest Illinois. She gives credit to others for much of what she should have for herself. Chris leads by an open, gentle enthusiasm which allows people to feel comfortable, secure, and motivated to work hard. This influence continues throughout her district as she participates on the administrative.
Workplace: Ogle County Education Cooperative, Byron, IL 61010
Nominator: Terry Schuster, School Psychologist, PPS Supervisor: Ogle County Education Co-op
I am proud to present Chris Tornabene as nominee for the Ted Smith Illinois Practitioner of the Year award. She exemplifies the best qualities many of our young professionals have who are shaping the future of School Psychology in Illinois. She is nominated not only for what she has accomplished in the past – but also for what she represents for the future of our profession.
In her first year with the Ogle County Educational Co-op she became a leader within our active Student Assistance Teams – which extended itself into the implementation of problem solving methodology and RtI programming. With her assistance, the district received one of the state’s first IASPIRE implementation grants. She has continued to be instrumental in making the Problem Solving model work as smoothly as possible.
Chris created and presented in-services for the district’s teaching staff and administration and has gone the extra two miles in order to make this change to problem solving / RtI work. She has put forth a tremendous amount of time into each of her schools – often working until 5 pm each night of the week to moderate PS team discussions. She essentially stood in the gap to ensure staff did not feel overwhelmed by the transition – thus helping to avoid much of the staff resistance to implementing something as new and different as this.
In addition, each year Chris has been with us, she has accepted the responsibility of working as a supervisor of School Psychology students from NIU – with practicum students and interns. In this way, she has had a significant role in touching the future of our profession far outside of the boundaries of our single cooperative.
In conclusion, I can honestly say that Chris is leading the way in our cooperative in demonstrating the future role of School Psychology in Illinois, even as our cooperative is leading the way in implementation in rural northwest Illinois. She gives credit to others for much of what she should have for herself. Chris leads by an open, gentle enthusiasm which allows people to feel comfortable, secure, and motivated to work hard. This influence continues throughout her district as she participates on the administrative.
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