Alyssa attends a Rally in Springfield, IL to show support for the MAP grant. 300 students from DePaul travelled on October 15, 2009. Alyssa and Roommate pose for a picture with Gov. Quin.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Map Grant Rally in Springfield, IL October,2009
Alyssa attends a Rally in Springfield, IL to show support for the MAP grant. 300 students from DePaul travelled on October 15, 2009. Alyssa and Roommate pose for a picture with Gov. Quin.
Minority Business Expo.
The Minority Business Expo was held at the Matteson Holiday Inn this September, 2009. Alyssa poses with Mr. Stroger after he addressed the audience. Mr. Hunnigan, Superintendent of Rich 227 congratulates Ms. Hernandez.
Spanish 5 Field Trip is attended by Board Member Alyssa and Students get a tour of DePaul, Lincoln Park Campus
In an effort to keep her promise to be a voice for the students Alyssa takes the invitation from Mrs. Cukierman to join on the Spanish 5 field trip. She was able to visit with this class early this year to explain the importance of taking AP courses and getting credit for college. At the end of the Spanish field trip she gave the students a tour of DePaul.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Rich East Comencement
http://www.enewspf.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7736:rich-east-holds-56th-commencement-exercises&catid=88888923&Itemid=88889536
Friday, May 22, 2009
District 227 article
http://www.southtownstar.com/neighborhoodstar/matteson/1584633,052109SD227supt.article
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Matteson President Ashmore sworn in
On May 4, 2009 Ms. Hernandez and campaign manager, Lydia Hernandez, attended the celebration for the newly sworn in President of Matteson at the Matteson Holiday Inn. In attendance was Richton Park President Reinbold, The Honorable George Skully, and Awri McGee of the MLI. The food, fellowship, and music was fabulous. Our sincere congratulations to all of the Matteson winners.
Ms. Hernandez thanks supporters of Rich Township
On Monday evening in her soccer uniform Alyssa attended the rich township board meeting. Highway Commissioner Jordan and other winners from the April 7, 2009 election were sworn in. Alyssa has received support from the rich township board and took the opportunity to congratulate and thank them for their support. Supervisor Al Riley was in attendance and will hopefully work with Alyssa in the future to serve the needs of the community.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Celebration
Join us at Rich East High on April 30, 2009 to experience the historic seating of Alyssa Hernandez to the district 227 school board. The board meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. After the meeting we will go to Beggars Pizza in Richton Park. At Beggars Pizza we will take the opportunity to personally thank all of you who were part of the movement to elect Alyssa. More information to follow.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
April 9, 2009
BY GUY TRIDGELL
Everything about Rich East senior Alyssa Hernandez screams "teenager."
She showed up for school Wednesday wearing a red hoodie, jeans and a small, subtle nose ring.
» Click to enlarge image
Rich East senior Alyssa Hernandez looks at congratulatory cards Wednesday made by her classmates after she won a seat on the Rich Township High School District 227 board. (Guy Tridgell/SouthtownStar)
RELATED STORIES• More Southland election coverage
She focused her day on making the school's blood drive a success and leading the student council through the end of the year. Thoughts of college in the fall bounced in the back of her head.
"I love it here," she said before ducking into physics class. "I am proud to say that."
But Hernandez is not just any student wandering the halls of her high school.
She's now calling the shots.
Voters in Rich High School District 227 gave Hernandez, 18, a seat on the school board on Election Day. By winning one of four open seats, the Park Forest resident became the youngest member of any school board in the Chicago area.
Jim Russell, associate executive director of the Illinois Association of School Boards, said the only other 18-year-old on a school board is in Dunlap, just outside of Peoria.
"It is very unusual," he said. "We've had a few run over the last couple of elections, but I wouldn't call it a trend."
The responsibility is a huge one.
The district includes three high schools. It stretches across Country Club Hills, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park and Matteson.
There are the problems of plummeting test scores and funding shortfalls dogging almost all schools these days.
Hernandez, a self-described overachiever with a 4.1 grade-point average, insists she is ready.
"If you know me, it's not really that bizarre," she said. "I just knew I would have to work hard to win. But I still had no idea what I was getting myself into."
Her political career started with a conversation with some friends about how Rich East always seemed overlooked.
Rich South got its new cafeteria. Rich Central even got a new building. But none of those amenities were planned for the East campus in Park Forest.
Also, as a student liaison to the school board, Hernandez was getting the feeling some of its members were out of touch with the needs of the students.
So Hernandez collected enough signatures to appear on the ballot.
"As I got my petitions signed, it became very clear someone new was needed," she said. "People want to believe in public schools. Once I started talking to them, the idea of winning became very, very real."
Her mom, Lydia, was drafted as a campaign manager.
The strategy was to work hard in the areas with high voter turnouts.
The message: Rich High School District 227 still is a pretty good place to send your kids, even with nearby Catholic schools robbing many of the best and the brightest.
"It's like our schools are not even an option," she said. "I've received a great education here. I want our schools to be an option again.
"People need to know all of the good things that are happening at the schools. We have a lot of great students."
She quickly learned politics can be a contact sport, even for a suburban school board race.
One of the other candidates challenged her nominating petitions, alleging the signatures were bogus.
School boards also are infamous for their witch hunts to take out an administrator they don't like or a coach who got on the bad side of a group of parents. When some candidates say they are for the kids, you have to wonder.
Hernandez tried to stay out of the muck.
"We all want the same thing," she said. "We are all about making the best decisions for the students."
How do the teachers and the principal view her now?
Mark Kramer, Rich East's principal, said he was pulling for her - despite some misgivings.
"My concern is I still want her to be a college student," Kramer said. "In some ways, she is sacrificing her youth by doing this. But she is a mature soul."
Hernandez graduates May 17. She will attend DePaul University on scholarship to study public policy before embarking on a career in politics.
The voters have provided her with a running start.
Guy Tridgell can be reached at gtridgell@southtownstar.com or (708)633-5970
BY GUY TRIDGELL
Everything about Rich East senior Alyssa Hernandez screams "teenager."
She showed up for school Wednesday wearing a red hoodie, jeans and a small, subtle nose ring.
» Click to enlarge image
Rich East senior Alyssa Hernandez looks at congratulatory cards Wednesday made by her classmates after she won a seat on the Rich Township High School District 227 board. (Guy Tridgell/SouthtownStar)
RELATED STORIES• More Southland election coverage
She focused her day on making the school's blood drive a success and leading the student council through the end of the year. Thoughts of college in the fall bounced in the back of her head.
"I love it here," she said before ducking into physics class. "I am proud to say that."
But Hernandez is not just any student wandering the halls of her high school.
She's now calling the shots.
Voters in Rich High School District 227 gave Hernandez, 18, a seat on the school board on Election Day. By winning one of four open seats, the Park Forest resident became the youngest member of any school board in the Chicago area.
Jim Russell, associate executive director of the Illinois Association of School Boards, said the only other 18-year-old on a school board is in Dunlap, just outside of Peoria.
"It is very unusual," he said. "We've had a few run over the last couple of elections, but I wouldn't call it a trend."
The responsibility is a huge one.
The district includes three high schools. It stretches across Country Club Hills, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park and Matteson.
There are the problems of plummeting test scores and funding shortfalls dogging almost all schools these days.
Hernandez, a self-described overachiever with a 4.1 grade-point average, insists she is ready.
"If you know me, it's not really that bizarre," she said. "I just knew I would have to work hard to win. But I still had no idea what I was getting myself into."
Her political career started with a conversation with some friends about how Rich East always seemed overlooked.
Rich South got its new cafeteria. Rich Central even got a new building. But none of those amenities were planned for the East campus in Park Forest.
Also, as a student liaison to the school board, Hernandez was getting the feeling some of its members were out of touch with the needs of the students.
So Hernandez collected enough signatures to appear on the ballot.
"As I got my petitions signed, it became very clear someone new was needed," she said. "People want to believe in public schools. Once I started talking to them, the idea of winning became very, very real."
Her mom, Lydia, was drafted as a campaign manager.
The strategy was to work hard in the areas with high voter turnouts.
The message: Rich High School District 227 still is a pretty good place to send your kids, even with nearby Catholic schools robbing many of the best and the brightest.
"It's like our schools are not even an option," she said. "I've received a great education here. I want our schools to be an option again.
"People need to know all of the good things that are happening at the schools. We have a lot of great students."
She quickly learned politics can be a contact sport, even for a suburban school board race.
One of the other candidates challenged her nominating petitions, alleging the signatures were bogus.
School boards also are infamous for their witch hunts to take out an administrator they don't like or a coach who got on the bad side of a group of parents. When some candidates say they are for the kids, you have to wonder.
Hernandez tried to stay out of the muck.
"We all want the same thing," she said. "We are all about making the best decisions for the students."
How do the teachers and the principal view her now?
Mark Kramer, Rich East's principal, said he was pulling for her - despite some misgivings.
"My concern is I still want her to be a college student," Kramer said. "In some ways, she is sacrificing her youth by doing this. But she is a mature soul."
Hernandez graduates May 17. She will attend DePaul University on scholarship to study public policy before embarking on a career in politics.
The voters have provided her with a running start.
Guy Tridgell can be reached at gtridgell@southtownstar.com or (708)633-5970
Meet Park Forest's Teen School Board Member
Meet Park Forest's Teen School Board Member
Alyssa Hernandez is a senior standout, athlete, student council president and now the youngest member of any Chicago-area school board.http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Meet_Park_Forest_s_Teen_School_Board_Member_Chicago.html
Alyssa Hernandez is a senior standout, athlete, student council president and now the youngest member of any Chicago-area school board.http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Meet_Park_Forest_s_Teen_School_Board_Member_Chicago.html
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Chicago Tribune link-
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-young-candidate-sw-zone-01apr01,0,5528281.story
please check out the article in the tribune about me!
please check out the article in the tribune about me!
Last Forum
Thank You so much Richton Park for inviting me to your forum. The citizens I have met through this process were incredible people. Each person has something to say and every voice is important. This election has opened my eyes and I am now better equipped to serve rich township. It has been an honor to meet the citizens of our GREAT community. May God bless us and look down on us with favor. Thanks -Alyssa Hernandez (vote 208)
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