Donna Zvonar

I was raised in Elmhurst , Illinois , a suburb of Chicago . I have 2 sisters and one brother. My father is still alive and active at 92.

I attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Grade School and York Community High School. I graduated in the top 3% of my class and received an Illinois Teaching Scholarship. I attended the University of Illinois in Urbana and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Special Education with Highest Honors and teaching certificates in Special Education-EMH and Elementary Education. I completed my Master’s Degree in Special Education at Illinois State University with a 4.0 grade point average. I also qualified for teaching certificates in Behavior Disorders and Learning Disabilities. I have endorsements in Language Arts and Social Studies. My passion is Science. I have 24 hours of post-graduate work, maintaining my 4.0 average.

I am a member of the Illinois Science Teacher’s Association and the Environmental Education Association of Illinois. I also belong to the National Catholic Educator’s Association. I am constantly seeking challenges for my students. Over the past several years we have grown seeds from space, tested water quality at local lakes and piloted curriculum for several different organizations. Last year we were involved with Project 2061, helping them with assessment questions.

I taught at Pontiac High School for four years in a self-contained special education classroom. I applied at St. Mary’s School and was hired for the 7th grade position for the fall of 1978. I felt at home as soon as I walked into the building for the first time. I believe that this is where God is calling me to be. This year is my 3rd year teaching at St. Mary’s School.

I have taught all subjects at St. Mary’s School since I started. I currently have an 8th grade homeroom. I teach 8th grade Religion, and 6-8 Science (my favorite!). Mr. Csanda, Mrs. Mason and I are leading morning music to try to share our love of God and music with students.

For 6 years I was involved with the PRISM program through Illinois State University. This is a program funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Its goal is to match ISU graduate fellows in math, science and technology with local teachers to help develop curriculum and provide technical support. We have developed many new lessons. They also have been a great help in organizing some of our major projects and field trips. Unfortunately, this program is no longer being funded in this area. However, through my PRISM contacts with the ISU biology Department, last year we hosted several ISU science education majors in our science classroom to give them contact with real kids before their student teaching experience.

Several years ago I became interested in grant writing. I have been awarded a digital camera, $3,500 for lake studies, and $1,000 from the Capco Science Challenge for the development and implementation of a unit using milkweed as a bio-indicator of ozone. Due to a grant from Corn Belt, we now also have 3 newer digital cameras and a photo printer. A second grant from them yielded GPS units and mapping software. So far, I have brought in over $17,000 in grant money. We have a lot of new science equipment including insect nets, dissecting microscopes, graphing calculators and Vernier probes. I also funded my SMART board and projector! Home & School made my dream come true: I finally have a document camera! We have a “cooking cart” full of equipment for teachers to use in their classrooms. We also have lots of new equipment to use during our lake studies and 15 new compound microscopes.

I am very willing to help other teachers with their grant writing. We have several Magiscopes, simple microscopes, for use by our younger students. One year we received a water table for the Pre-K room, two batches of the first and second graders have visited Shedd Aquarium in Chicago on field trips, and Mrs. Mason and I received funds to plant a rain garden on school property. Please keep your eyes open for grant opportunities!

For several years, I served as an on-line mentor for beginning teachers through the Novice Teacher Support Program through the University of Illinois. I try to be available to our St. Mary’s teachers in this capacity, as well. My Professional Partner is Nelly Vasquez, our Spanish teacher, We share a classroom and ideas. I also serve on our Spiritual Growth Committee and help prepare our students for Confirmation.

I am a member of St. Mary’s Parish. I am a lector, cantor, leader of the 11:00 choir, Eucharistic Minister, and Minister of the Altar. I help provide meals for bereavement dinners and Heaven Sent Meals. Eight years ago I became a professed Secular Franciscan.

I am married with 2 daughters. My husband, Michael, works at Mitsubishi. Christy lives in Naperville and works in a finance department. She is actually using her degrees! Tricia is working full time and finished her Associate’s Degree at Heartland Community College. My granddaughter, Alyssa is 7 years old and attends St. Mary’s second grade. She is very excited about making her First Communion this year. She continues to keep us busy with all of her activities. She is the best gift from God ever!

For fun I read lots of books, especially detective novels and science fiction/fantasy. After 32 years I have taken a leave of absence from my volunteer work as a dog trainer for Town & Country Kennel Club. I love to walk my dog, Skye, and to be outside. And, as any one of my students can tell you, my favorite color is still green.