From The President: Transitions

Welcome back to a new school year! The transition from summer to fall can be challenging and invigorating, filled with apprehension and excitement, all at the same time. We hope you had a summer that provided rest, relaxation, and renewal, preparing your for an exciting year ahead.

At ICEE, we are also going through some transitions. It is with mixed feelings that we announce the resignation of Terry Borg as ICEE Vice President and Director, Illinois Global Economics & Finance High Schools program. Terry left ICEE October 1 to become Director of External Programming for the NIU College of Education.

As you know, funding for the IGEFHS program was terminated after the first two years. Through diligence, Terry was able to extend the program for more than three years, and we intend to continue to support the 17 current IGEFHS schools, and add others, as funds permit (see the IGEFHS Update for information). However, funding for Terry’s position is no longer available, and Terry has opted for a position on campus which not only guarantees steady employment, but also is a great fit for his skills.

We will greatly miss Terry’s skills and knowledge here at ICEE. He took a grant with no real structure to the proposed program, and created a program that has greatly benefited teachers, students, schools and our Centers. (Did you know that, over the past three years, IGEFHS provided more than $133,000 to Centers for professional development programs and curriculum consulting, and an additional $124,000 went to schools for their curriculum enhancements?)

Please join us in wishing Terry the very best in his new adventure and in thanking him for his tireless work on behalf of the IGEFHS program.

We will also be saying “good-bye” to our Development Officer, Lorna (Dennie) Stanciu, who is retiring at the end of October (seems a new grandson has her attention!). Dennie has been an invaluable member of our staff, providing excellent communications and coordination with our Boards, supervising fundraising operations, and coordinating our major events. We know that our friends will miss Dennie’s gracious manner and big smile at those events. She will be much missed in our office as well, but we hope to hire her for special occasions when we need an extra hand!

Joanne R. Dempsey
President/Executive Director