http://www.pekintimes.com/topstories/x1199434674/Friends-recall-love-of-teacher
PEKIN, Ill. —
Wilson Intermediate School sixth-grade teacher Lisa Schmidgall was known to her students as Mrs. S — much easier to say than her last name.
But Schmidgall was much more than a title and a name at the school. Schmidgall was a dynamic educator who let each and every one of her students into her heart as she searched always for better ways to make them successful in their academic careers and their personal lives.
“Lisa formed a wonderful rapport with her students,” said Wilson School Principal Matt Green. “The environment when you walked into her classroom — the kids wanted to be there.
“She shared a lot about herself with the kids. Kids don’t often look at teachers as people (with outside lives), they think of them as being at the school. Lisa broke that image and shared her life with them. She cared for them in the classroom and out of the classroom and wanted to help them succeed.”
Schmidgall, 33, the wife of Pekin City Councilman Chad Schmidgall and mother of Chloe, 4 and Levi, 2, died at 3:58 p.m. Monday at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria after a battle with cancer. She had last taught in December, but was unable to return to the classroom after the holiday break.
Green said Schmidgall will be dearly missed. He said she was dedicated to her family, her students, the community and her faith.
“Anybody who knew her at all knew how important her faith was to her,” he said. “She was full of life, full of energy and had a unique sense of humor that the kids picked up on.
“She taught her students to ask not only what they could do for their school, but what could they do for Pekin.”
Schmidgall started her career as a teacher at Wilson after graduating from college. She completed her internship with Pekin District 108 and was hired as a full-time sixth-grade teacher in 1999 — a grade level that she stayed with throughout her career.
While at Wilson, Schmidgall served as a faculty advisor to the student council. She was involved in community food drives through the school and her church and collecting coins for various charity events, said Green. Schmidgall was also involved in the Spirit Committee, a group of adults at the school who did things for fellow staff members, as well as the curriculum committee.
Lisa Gentry, Schmidgall’s fellow sixth-grade teacher, said Schmidgall was an inspiration to students and helped them deal with not only educational challenges, but home challenges as well.
“Lisa really inspired her kids to do well in writing,” said Gentry. “She gave a lot to her students.
“One of the things that she did was the student council, in that she loved the talent show and inspired the kids to participate. She was never afraid to be kind of silly, and the kids respected her even more because she was willing to embrace them and put herself out there. She was great about teaching the kids about choices — positive choices in life. Lisa built up the kids so they felt good about their academic and personal lives. Lisa was pretty open and allowed the kids to be themselves.”
Teachers gleaned much from Schmidgall’s example and openness, too.
“She was willing to be a friend as well as a mentor,” said sixth-grade teacher Katie Morrison. “I learned so much from her.
“She always made herself available, encouraging not only the kids, but her friends and coworkers as well.”
Morrison said she lived down the street from the Schmidgall family and they shared the same baby-sitter.
“Chloe and Levi could do no wrong — they were just like little Lisas. We were at McDonald’s one night and it was late and she said the kids had not had ice cream yet — we couldn’t leave without them getting ice cream. She wanted even the little things for her kids.”
Schmidgall, said Morrison, made it a point to have fun whenever possible, right up to the end. Schmidgall celebrated her birthday a few weeks early at her parents’ ranch last week, where the family enjoyed a hayrack ride.
“There was a rule at Lisa’s house — you had to have fun,” said Morrison. “We always did.”
Pekin Mayor Laurie Barra said in a written statement that the Pekin City Council, staff and employees of the city “would like to extend their condolences to Chad and his family on the passing of his wife, Lisa.”
“Lisa fought a valiant fight and will always be remembered for her sunny smile and upbeat outlook, as a wonderful wife and mother, and as an excellent role model for the children of our community,” she said. “Throughout the past year, even though Chad may have wanted to be with his wife and family, he attended each meeting, prepared and with a smile on his face.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Chad and his family, now and in the days to come.”
But Schmidgall was much more than a title and a name at the school. Schmidgall was a dynamic educator who let each and every one of her students into her heart as she searched always for better ways to make them successful in their academic careers and their personal lives.
“Lisa formed a wonderful rapport with her students,” said Wilson School Principal Matt Green. “The environment when you walked into her classroom — the kids wanted to be there.
“She shared a lot about herself with the kids. Kids don’t often look at teachers as people (with outside lives), they think of them as being at the school. Lisa broke that image and shared her life with them. She cared for them in the classroom and out of the classroom and wanted to help them succeed.”
Schmidgall, 33, the wife of Pekin City Councilman Chad Schmidgall and mother of Chloe, 4 and Levi, 2, died at 3:58 p.m. Monday at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria after a battle with cancer. She had last taught in December, but was unable to return to the classroom after the holiday break.
Green said Schmidgall will be dearly missed. He said she was dedicated to her family, her students, the community and her faith.
“Anybody who knew her at all knew how important her faith was to her,” he said. “She was full of life, full of energy and had a unique sense of humor that the kids picked up on.
“She taught her students to ask not only what they could do for their school, but what could they do for Pekin.”
Schmidgall started her career as a teacher at Wilson after graduating from college. She completed her internship with Pekin District 108 and was hired as a full-time sixth-grade teacher in 1999 — a grade level that she stayed with throughout her career.
While at Wilson, Schmidgall served as a faculty advisor to the student council. She was involved in community food drives through the school and her church and collecting coins for various charity events, said Green. Schmidgall was also involved in the Spirit Committee, a group of adults at the school who did things for fellow staff members, as well as the curriculum committee.
Lisa Gentry, Schmidgall’s fellow sixth-grade teacher, said Schmidgall was an inspiration to students and helped them deal with not only educational challenges, but home challenges as well.
“Lisa really inspired her kids to do well in writing,” said Gentry. “She gave a lot to her students.
“One of the things that she did was the student council, in that she loved the talent show and inspired the kids to participate. She was never afraid to be kind of silly, and the kids respected her even more because she was willing to embrace them and put herself out there. She was great about teaching the kids about choices — positive choices in life. Lisa built up the kids so they felt good about their academic and personal lives. Lisa was pretty open and allowed the kids to be themselves.”
Teachers gleaned much from Schmidgall’s example and openness, too.
“She was willing to be a friend as well as a mentor,” said sixth-grade teacher Katie Morrison. “I learned so much from her.
“She always made herself available, encouraging not only the kids, but her friends and coworkers as well.”
Morrison said she lived down the street from the Schmidgall family and they shared the same baby-sitter.
“Chloe and Levi could do no wrong — they were just like little Lisas. We were at McDonald’s one night and it was late and she said the kids had not had ice cream yet — we couldn’t leave without them getting ice cream. She wanted even the little things for her kids.”
Schmidgall, said Morrison, made it a point to have fun whenever possible, right up to the end. Schmidgall celebrated her birthday a few weeks early at her parents’ ranch last week, where the family enjoyed a hayrack ride.
“There was a rule at Lisa’s house — you had to have fun,” said Morrison. “We always did.”
Pekin Mayor Laurie Barra said in a written statement that the Pekin City Council, staff and employees of the city “would like to extend their condolences to Chad and his family on the passing of his wife, Lisa.”
“Lisa fought a valiant fight and will always be remembered for her sunny smile and upbeat outlook, as a wonderful wife and mother, and as an excellent role model for the children of our community,” she said. “Throughout the past year, even though Chad may have wanted to be with his wife and family, he attended each meeting, prepared and with a smile on his face.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Chad and his family, now and in the days to come.”
