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Published in The Beverly Review on October 22, 2025
by Jim Lynch
Tim O'Brien, the longtime sports editor of The Beverly Review, was recently named Media Relations Person of the Year by the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA).
O'Brien, a Morgan Park native who has served as sports editor at The Review since 2016, said he is humbled and grateful for the recognition.
"I'm not in this for the individual accolades," O'Brien said. "But, it is cool to be recognized for something that I do take super-seriously and something I love to do."
According to Mike Manno, director of Hall of Fame Awards with the IHSBCA, the media relations award recognizes "an outstanding communications professional who's demonstrated exceptional skill, leadership and impact in media relations."
Individuals are nominated for the award all across the state by coaches, and nominees are reviewed by the IHSBCA Board of Directors.
Manno said O'Brien's nomination quickly stood out for his years of dedication and promotion of high school baseball across the South Side of Chicago.
"Tim has really done a lot for high school baseball over the majority of the years that he's been doing journalism," Manno said. "He's done a lot to showcase all of our athletes in that realm, and we're just very appreciative. We want to honor him for doing that."
O'Brien was nominated by longtime St. Laurence Baseball Coach Pete Lotus, who is now entering his 21st year with the Vikings. Lotus said his decision to nominate O'Brien stemmed from the reporter's professionalism and character.
"Tim is just a really good person," Lotus said. "I have always had great experiences and interactions with him, and it's not just limited to when he is covering our games. Maybe it's another St. Laurence event, but he always takes the time to come and say hello and ask about my kids. I respect that and appreciate that."
Lotus also praised O'Brien's work as a reporter —noting how he always finds a way to highlight the high school athletes no matter the score.
"There are times when I know we didn't play as well as we would have liked, but Tim always finds a way to find the positive," Lotus said. "He always finds a way to write positively and highlight the high school athletes, and I think that is a really unique trait."
O'Brien, a 2007 graduate of Indiana University with a bachelor's degree in journalism, previously worked for the Chicago Tribune, the Daily Southtown and the Herald- News in Joliet before joining The Beverly Review.
O'Brien covers area sports all year long, but he said the spring season is particularly demanding with baseball and softball being a top priority among nearly a dozen area schools.
"It's tricky because we have really good teams," he said. "It's tough to balance everything, but I know how much baseball means to the area and how many fans there are."
During the spring season, sports fans might find O'Brien at a baseball diamond in the afternoon before heading to a volleyball game at night. He works to cover the entire neighborhood across multiple sports and over a dozen teams each week.
"I try and cover all the good matchups and all the good rivalries," he said, "and try and spread the wealth as much as possible to all our different schools."
While the schedule might be demanding, O'Brien said the athletes often make the long hours worth it.
"We have some really good teams and some great athletes," he said. "It makes my job easy because there is always something good going on."
O'Brien, a Tinley Park resident, thanked his wife, Angie, his son, Daniel, and his parents, Gerry and Tracy, for all of their support over the years.
"My dad was the one who really got me interested in baseball growing up," O'Brien said. "He is the biggest White Sox fan I know. He loves baseball; that, luckily, was passed to me as well."
O'Brien's parents live in Morgan Park, and Gerry is the director of college counseling at Marian Catholic High School. Week after week, O'Brien said, his father is always keeping an eye on his work.
"Schedule permitting, he is one of the few people I can count on to read my stories each week," O'Brien said. "He is very connected with high school sports and is always keeping a tab on things. He is as big of a sports nerd as I am."
O'Brien will be recognized during a special Hall of Fame Banquet hosted by the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association in December.
For O'Brien, the recognition is extra meaningful coming from Lotus, who helped coach St. Laurence to a Class 3A state championship last June.
"Pete is one of the best; he has turned St. Laurence into one of the best programs in the state," O'Brien said. "For him to nominate me means a lot because I've known him for almost 20 years at this point. I really appreciate the nomination, winning the award was just kind of gravy at that point."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2025 Contact Information: Kara Kienzler, associate executive director - communications Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Ph: (217) 528-9688
SPRINGFIELD — November 15 of each year is designated as School Board Members Day. The day of recognition is an occasion to build community awareness about the important role school board members play in a representative democracy by providing a local voice for community education decisions. In 2007, the Illinois House of Representatives declared November 15 as School Board Members Day in the State of Illinois. The resolution states the annual recognition is “a way to honor those citizens who devote so much of their time and energy for the education of our children.” “School board members serve as our local, volunteer education advocates striving for quality learning opportunities for every student. They take on this immense responsibility not for a paycheck, but because they are committed to their communities and the belief that every child deserves a quality education,” said IASB Executive Director Kimberly A. Small, J.D. “Our school board members wear many hats; beyond their educational leadership, they are policy-makers, contract negotiators, and budgeteers. They are also our neighbors, our friends, and our schools’ biggest fans. On November 15 –– School Board Members Day — it is our chance to say, ‘Thank You.’” IASB encourages school districts, communities, businesses, and others to thank local school board members and recognize them for their dedication to providing successful education opportunities for all students. Resources and images to recognize school board members on November 15 are available at www.iasb.com/thankaboardmember.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2025 Media Contact Illinois Principals Association Alison Maley, government and public relations director PH: 217-299-3122 alison@ilprincipals.org
SPRINGFIELD – In a direct response to the growing school leadership shortage across Illinois, the Illinois Principals Association, through its Ed Leaders Network (ELN), has teamed up with Aurora University to launch an exciting and streamlined Alternative Principal Endorsement Program. This endorsement pathway enables educators who already have five years of experience and hold a master’s degree in education to earn their Principal Endorsement in just one year – without completing an additional graduate degree. Approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and aligned with National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standards, the program blends an immersive one-year internship with micro‑credentials tailored to school leadership practice. Eligible educators can earn licensure‑approved endorsement within one calendar year. This program is significantly less expensive than a full master’s degree and delivered on a fully remote platform. Participants in the program have appreciated the flexibility and experience the program provides as they enter or continue their school leadership journey. “Having already completed my master's degree, I knew I wanted to add the Principals Endorsement to my license, but I did not want to enroll in another full master's program. I was able to pull from previous leadership experience as I worked through the micro-credentials while still gaining valuable experience during my internship activities. The program is challenging but rewarding as it offers a way to reflect on previous experiences while building new skills as an educational leader."
- Jon Pieper, division head for Career & Technical Education, Physical Education, Drivers Education, and Health Education at Elk Grove High School
“The Alternative Principal Endorsement program was a great fit because everything was online, and I could work at my own pace. The flexibility allowed me to balance professional responsibilities while advancing my leadership skills. I would highly recommend this program to aspiring leaders.”
- Dr. Maribel Guerrero, director of language acquisition, Naperville CUSD 203
Dr. Ed Howerton, director of graduate education programs at Aurora University and former district administrator, shared: "Our program leans heavily into a ‘learning by doing’ framework that is extremely self-driven. It provides flexibility for professionals and ownership in the learning process. Many of our completers have moved into administrative roles sooner than if they had gone through a master’s degree program, and filling leadership voids in our schools is key to promoting student success.” Dr. Jason Leahy, executive director of the Illinois Principals Association, also shared: “When compared to a little over a decade ago, the State of Illinois has experienced an almost 60% reduction in the number of individuals who earn their principal endorsement each year. This alternative pathway provides a rigorous, cost effective, and expedited opportunity for quality educators to demonstrate they possess the skills necessary to be effective school leaders.” Eligible candidates must hold a current Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL), possess a master’s degree in education, have completed five years of teaching or school support experience, are employed in a full‑time, permanent educational position before program start, and complete required evaluation training and principal content exams to qualify for endorsement. Currently, 81 students are enrolled at various stages of the program at Aurora University, including 30 students that began this fall semester. Twenty-four students have completed the program since its inception, with 12 individuals working in leadership positions. Aurora University Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Aurora University is committed to preparing leaders for the future of education. For a full overview of the program’s structure and registration information, visit the Alternative Principal Endorsement at https://aurora.edu/academics/graduate/principal-endorsement/index.html. Illinois Principals Association The Illinois Principals Association is a leadership organization which serves more than 6,900 educational leaders throughout the state of Illinois and whose mission is to develop, support, and advocate for innovative educational leaders. For more information about the IPA, please visit www.ilprincipals.org. Program Contacts Aurora University – Ed Howerton, director of Graduate Education Programs, ehowerton@aurora.edu, 630-844-5626 Ed Leaders Network / Illinois Principals Association – Arlin Peebles, Ed Leaders Network director, arlin.peebles@ilprincipals.org, 217-241-0598
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 5, 2025 Contact Illinois Bar Foundation Jessie Reeves, director of events & administration Ph: 312-920-4681 jreeves@illinoisbarfoundation.org
CHICAGO, November 5, 2025 - Mark D. Hassakis, a personal injury and workers' compensation attorney at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. of Mount Vernon, Illinois, was recently honored with the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence on Oct. 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. Mark D. Hassakis has the legal advocacy of Illinois victims in his blood. Born and raised in Mount Vernon, Mark followed in the footsteps of his father, Demetri, a lifelong Mount Vernon attorney, to practice law at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C, now celebrating 75 years. Mark has dedicated his professional life to helping his fellow Illinois citizens and the community at large. In addition to his exceptional career representing individuals’ needs in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation, professional malpractice, and general tort injury cases, Mark is a true leader with unparalleled dedication to giving back to the community. The Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence, the organization’s highest honor, is awarded annually to individuals whose career and personal life exemplify their ongoing commitment to the law and legal community. “The selection of Mark Hassakis for this year's Distinguished Award of Excellence reflects our belief in the principle that legal excellence and community service go hand in hand. His career demonstrates how individual attorneys can make a lasting impact not just through their practice, but through their commitment to strengthening the legal profession and ensuring access to justice for all Illinois residents.”
Lauren N. Tuckey, Tuckey Law Illinois Bar Foundation President 2025-26
Bar leadership and community impact Mark's commitment to the legal profession extends far beyond his practice. As president of the Illinois State Bar Association (2010-11), he championed juvenile justice reform, established young attorney mentorship programs, and highlighted the vital role lawyers play in strengthening their communities. His passion for juvenile justice led to the establishment of the Illinois Bar Foundation's M. Denny Hassakis Fund, which focuses on improving Illinois' juvenile justice system through public policy changes and programs supporting vulnerable youth. Mark served as president of the Illinois Bar Foundation from 2000 to 2002, during which time he was instrumental in creating the organization's signature fundraising events, including the Gala and Lawyers Rock concert. Mark has held numerous other leadership positions, including chairman of the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company; president of the Jefferson County Bar Association; and board member of the Hellenic Bar Association, the Lawyers' Trust Fund of Illinois, and the Juvenile Justice Initiative. Beyond his legal work, Mark has been a driving force in Mount Vernon and Southern Illinois development. He has spearheaded projects focused on downtown development, historical building restoration, and the support of community parks and arts initiatives. Notable achievements include bringing nationally acclaimed jazz artists to teach area grade school students and commissioning an "Abraham Lincoln as a Lawyer" sculpture for the 5th Appellate Court grounds in Mount Vernon. A proud Northwestern University alumnus, Mark continues to serve as an alumni regent and member of the Northwestern University Leadership Circle since 2012, acting as an ambassador for the university. Mark's extensive community involvement includes leadership roles with the Downtown Development Corporation of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County Historical Society, Lincoln Park Foundation, Vernon West Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), and numerous other local organizations dedicated to enriching Southern Illinois. Bar Admissions