Alexandra Murphy

Alexandra Murphy is a freelance writer for the Pioneer Press.

Kimberly Alcantara is stepping down from the New Trier Township High School District 203 Board of Education and the Board is taking applications to fill the open seat. (New Trier Township High School District 203)

New Trier High School Board seeks new member after Kimberly Alcantara resigns

May 12, 2026 at 1:56 p.m.

New Trier Township High School District 203 is taking applications to fill an open Board of Education seat following the resignation of Wilmette resident Kimberly Alcantara. Alcantara, who was first...

Jerika Gill, who won the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, stands with her husband, Zach Gill, and their three-week-old daughter. (Alexandra Murphy/ for the Pioneer Press)

Morton Grove special education teacher wins Golden Apple Award

May 12, 2026 at 12:13 p.m.

Morton Grove special education teacher Jerika Gill won a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, which she was awarded with during a surprise event held Monday afternoon.

From left, Beth Drucker of Wilmette, president of Go Green Wilmette, goes over gardening schematics at Gillson Park on Sept. 24, 2016.

Go Green groups in Winnetka, Wilmette, etc., champion environmental sustainability

April 15, 2026 at 8:49 a.m.

Go Green groups in Winnetka, Wilmette, etc., champion environmental sustainability

After parents and staff members initiated the idea for an Assyrian language program at Niles Township High School District 219 several years ago, the program has won a regional award. In this December 2022 photo, students in the program are shown at a dinner celebrating the approval of the course. From left are Gabriela Sulayman, George Yousif, Crystal Patto, Odisho Lazar, Lina Biram, John Shlimon and Ashley Boudakh. (Niles Township High School District 219)

After writing first-in-the-nation Assyrian language curriculum, Niles Township D219 gets award

April 3, 2026 at 6:31 p.m.

Niles Township High School District 219 got an award for developing the nation's first Assyrian language program. 130 are enrolled.

Kristin Anson, an elementary school teacher at St. Norbert Catholic School in Northbrook, is one of 30 finalists for the 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. (Golden Apple Foundation)

Northbrook teacher Kristin Anson, at St. Norbert’s, named finalist for Golden Apple award

March 17, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.

Northbrook teacher Kristin Anson, at St. Norbert's School, named a finalist for the Golden Apple award.

Aliaa Ibrahim, principal at Rutledge Hall School in Lincolnwood School District 74, is one of seven finalists nominated for a Golden Apple award for Excellence in Leadership (Golden Apple Foundation)

Lincolnwood principal Aliaa Ibrahim nominated for Golden Apple leadership award

March 16, 2026 at 1:08 p.m.

Lincolnwood School District 74 principal Aliaa Ibrahim has been nominated for a Golden Apple leadership award.

Jerika Gill, a special education teacher at Julia S. Molloy Education Center in Morton Grove, is one of 30 Illinois finalists for a 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching (Golden Apple Foundation)

Morton Grove special ed teacher Jerika Gill nominated for Golden Apple award

March 2, 2026 at 4:16 p.m.

Jerika Gill, a special education teacher at Julia S. Molloy School Education Center located in Morton Grove, has been nominated for a 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching....

Northbrook JCC security guard Todd Kosloske, center, and local swimmer Jim Pines, at right, receive awards on Feb. 21, 2026 for helping save Michael Kreda, in white shirt, from a cardiac arrest. Kreda's wife Noreen Kreda helped organize a community event at the JCC to teach CPR to anyone interested. (Alexandra Murphy/for Pioneer Press)

After being saved from cardiac arrest death in Northbrook, Deerfield man promotes CPR training

February 26, 2026 at 11:57 a.m.

After being saved from cardiac arrest death in Northbrook, Michael Kreda of Deerfield and his wife Noreen promoted CPR training.

Female student athletes from many high schools across the north suburbs attended EmpowerHER, a conference to empower and inspire young female athletes, on Feb. 16, 2026 at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, part of Glenbrook High School District 225. (Alexandra Murphy/for Pioneer Press)

Female high school athletes gather at Glenbrook D225 for empowerment, inspiration

February 18, 2026 at 3:18 p.m.

Female high school athletes gathered at Glenbrook South in D225 for the EmpowerHER conference for empowerment and inspiration.

LaKisha David, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, lead in the TAKiR project, is taking DNA samples from African Americans in Illinois to use in scientific analysis to determine their geographic origins in Africa and possibly connect them with living relatives. She updated Evanston City Council on Feb. 5, 2026, at Evanston City Hall. Photo was taken at City Hall on July 3, 2025 in Evanston, Illinois. ( John Konstantaras-Pioneer-Press )

Evanston Reparations OKs payments to descendants, gets update on DNA connections with Africa

February 9, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.

Evanston’s Reparations Committee announced Feb. 5 it will issue reparation payments to 44 additional descendants this summer, while providing an update on its DNA Roots Program and exploring a potential...

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