Regional superintendent wins 2012 Athena Award
September 14, 2012 3:42PM
Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Will County regional superintendent of schools, accepts the Athena Award from Russ Slinkard, president and CEO of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry. | submitted photo
Updated: October 17, 2012 6:30AM
JOLIET — Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Will County regional superintendent of schools, was the 2012 recipient of the Athena Award.
The award was presented last week by Russ Slinkard, president/CEO of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at the annual Athena Luncheon at the Holiday Inn Joliet Hotel and Conference Center.
The award is presented to those who have achieved the highest level of professional excellence, devoted time and energy to improve the quality of life in their communities and actively helped others, particularly women, to realize their full career potential.
“Receiving this award is both exciting and humbling,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “I am fortunate to have so many wonderful people around me to assist and support me. I am very grateful to this community, the Joliet Area Chambers and the Council of Working Women for this honor.”
The strong leadership skills Bertino-Tarrant has exhibited in her career as teacher, school administrator and regional superintendent, along with her high level of community involvement, made her an outstanding choice for the award, Slinkard said.
Bertino-Tarrant’s mission statement for the Will County Regional Office of Education, “Working with our Communities to Support Student Learning,” illustrates her focus. She sponsors enrichment activities for both educators and students.
Some of Bertino-Tarrant’s awards are the following: outstanding career achievement award from Joliet Catholic Academy; recognition in Cambridge’s Who’s Who; Troy School Foundation president; Beta Rho vice-president (outdoing); Computers 2 Kids president; Relay for Life past children’s activity chair; Joliet Chamber Education Committee member; Girl Scout 5 Year Recognition Pin; Wilco Career Center board member; Will County Center for Economic Development board member; Junior Achievement board member; Delta Kappa Gamma member; Zonta Club Past Fund-raising co-chair and Scholarship chair; Illinois Association of Regional superintendents; Association of School Administrators; Advocated United for Joliet Children.
