The Valley View CUSD 365U Board used part of its Jan. 12 meeting to recognize students and staff across the district.

Board members screened a spotlight on Andrew DeMeo, a science teacher at Bolingbrook High School, who described a classroom experimental design exercise using a toy popper to teach energy concepts and measurement techniques. DeMeo framed the exercise as practice in scientific assumptions and consistency in data collection.

Clark Anderson, Romeoville High School band director (retiring this year after 35 years), introduced student Alex Trujillo, who made the Illinois All‑State band on bass clarinet; Anderson said Trujillo will perform in Peoria Jan. 29–30. "He made Allstate on bass clarinet," Anderson told the board.

Marissa Chubla, principal at the Step campus, presented Jennifer Cooper, a job coach in the district’s secondary transition experience program, who has been nominated as one of two Illinois nominees for the 2025 RISE Award from the U.S. Department of Education. Chubla noted Cooper’s more than 22 years of service and her role expanding the STEPS student‑run coffee shop with Joliet Junior College.

Student ambassador Lillian Chan provided a report on athletics, theater and upcoming events, including incoming freshmen nights (Bolingbrook Jan. 14; Romeoville Jan. 22) and the Bolingbrook concert on Feb. 5.

What’s next: the board praised the honorees and moved on to routine business; the recognitions provide a preview of student performances and district fundraising events in the coming months.