Saint Patrick Teacher Receives “Heart of the School” Award
January 28, 2008

Saint Patrick teacher Lisa Fiorante was recently honored with a “Heart of the School” Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools for making outstanding contributions to integrating technology in education. The Archdiocese named 14 elementary and secondary school teachers as the “2008 Heart of the School” Award winners. The awards recognize outstanding, unique and innovative accomplishments of individual teachers at Archdiocese of Chicago schools. Two awards are presented in each of seven categories: Arts, Behind the Scenes, Catholic School Identity and Mission, Innovation and Creativity, Leadership, Rising Star, and Technology.

Fiorante, a native of Norridge, was honored in the Technology category. Fiorante has taught mathematics for the past five years at Saint Patrick High School in Chicago. Lisa’s curriculum utilizes textbooks that include technology and her students are informed of upcoming activities and projects by accessing a spreadsheet. Also, each Friday her probability and statistics students work in the library computer lab applying what they have learned in each chapter.

This year's Heart of the School Award recipients are shining examples of the thousands of high-quality educators in the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools. Their vital contributions to the spiritual formation and academic development of our students are what truly makes Catholic schools so special," said Dr. Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, Superintendent, Office of Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Chicago.

The 2008 Heart of the School award-winners were chosen from a potential pool of more than 5,200 educators from 256 schools in Cook and Lake counties. Each winner was presented with a pin, commemorative plaque and a monetary award at a breakfast gathering on January 25 at the Windham Hotel in Chicago. (The monetary awards were provided by the following corporate sponsors: Benziger Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, Catapult Learning, CDW-G, Comcast Corporation, Lifetouch National School Studios, Private School Aid Service, QSP/World’s Finest Chocolate, and School Specialties, Inc.)