Lake County Gazette

Antioch Community High School has recognized Kelly Taylor and Dr. Kara Bolton as its Staff of the Month for October.

Kelly Taylor, who serves as the school librarian, was praised by Lindsay Edwardson for her efforts in making the Instructional Learning Center (ILC) a welcoming environment for both staff and students. Edwardson noted, "I literally cannot believe how lucky we are to have Kelly as our librarian! She has already gone so far above and beyond to make the ILC a welcoming and wonderful space for both staff members and students. I have attended both late start staff book club meetings, which has been such a delightful way to hang out with other staff members. Students are wanting to go to the ILC to experience the space and all it has to offer. Kelly has already given multiple book talks to English classes, and she put together an awesome presentation for my AP Seminar classes on databases and finding research. It is so clear that she was made for this position, and I'm really excited for all that is to come for her!"

Dr. Kara Bolton received nominations from Sarah Lingle and Sarah Ogborn highlighting her dedication to supporting colleagues and students alike. Lingle stated, "Kara works incredibly hard to make sure that everyone's needs are met. Whether that is covering for someone who is out, listening to someone who is struggling, or problem-solving a challenge, she is always willing to help her colleagues and our students. She goes above and beyond to make ACHS a better place!" Ogborn added, "Kara is doing her best to help out at the beginning of the year. She's also been a fierce advocate for her department this year and has jumped in to help in a lot of different ways."

Antioch Community High School operates within Community High School District 117 alongside Lakes Community High School; both serve Lake County according to information from the Illinois State Board of Education https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/. The district employs 178 teachers with an average salary of $63,920 before pension contributions; about 57 percent are women while roughly 42 percent are men https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/. Data shows there are no teachers in the district with more than ten absences annually.

The student body within District 117 consists predominantly of White students (78 percent), with Hispanic students making up just over 12 percent, Asian students at about three percent, and Black students comprising just over three percent https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/. In 2020, per-student spending reached $29,553 with total expenditures amounting to nearly $77.9 million https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.