OP_111518

opprairie.com life & arts
the orland park prairie | November 15, 2018 | 23
Former Orland School D135 teacher
publishes third math teaching book
Orland Park World War II veteran
honored by Gary Sinise Foundation
Cody Mroczka, Contributing Editor
Jeanne White is a teacher who
teaches other teachers how to teach.
A 25-year veteran in the profession,
the Tinley Park native has
been a professor of math methods
at Elmhurst College for the last 13
years after spending the previous
12 years as an elementary teacher at
Orland School District 135. White
recently published her third book,
along with co-author and colleague
Linda Dauksas, tilted “Engaging
Preschoolers in Mathematics,”
which offers strategies and methods
for early student engagement in
mathematics.
“The idea behind the book is using
the routines that are typical in
a pre-K setting,” White said. “How
you can get math into all those areas
— for example, when children
are painting or at snack time or in
the outdoors. It’s about how to have
a mathematical theme in all these
typical situations.”
A native of Harvey, White got
her first taste of teaching in high
school as a math tutor for the National
Honor Society. Although she
initially planned to major in journalism
at the University of Illinois
in Champaign, White switched her
major to elementary education and
went on to earn a master’s degree
and doctorate in the educational
field.
“From the minute I tutored someone,
I said, ‘This is it. I’m going to
be a teacher,’” she said. “And even
though I loved teaching, I always
wanted to be on the teacher preparation
side of it. Teach the teachers
— that was my goal.”
White broke into the publishing
business when she was asked
to review another academic book
and returned the assignment with
a few pitches of her own. Her first
two books also deal in early education,
though focus on kindergarten
through second grade and kindergarten
through six grade, respectively.
They focus on using children’s
literature to teach problem
solving skills in math.
The publisher suggested partnering
with Dauksas, an expert in
Jeanne White. Cody Mroczka/22nd
Century Media
early childhood development, to
extend that theme to the preschool
level on the third book published
last month.
“We were really in tandem,”
Dauksas said. “It really was a coauthored
book. It couldn’t have
been written without one or the
other. Hopefully, it will have some
impact on students and families.”
The book is for both in-service
and pre-service teachers, meaning
those currently licensed and those
still in school, said White, who also
serves as chairperson of the college’s
graduate program for her department
and regularly supervisors
student-teachers.
She said it helps having taught
in both the elementary and college
settings when it comes to
writing for a specific educational
audience.
“Having been a teacher myself
and being a professor who teaches
math methods helps me see what
teachers have a hard time trying to
figure out,” White said. “Some of
the methods being taught now are
not the methods that we learned
in school. It’s about being able to
explain something enough so that
a teacher can be able to explain it
better to their students.”
Brianne Dougherty
Freelance Reporter
Veterans Day is a time to celebrate
and pay our respects to the
brave war heroes who have put
their lives on the line to fight for
our freedom.
One heroic individual to celebrate
is Orland Park’s own James
Rizzo, a 92-year-old World War II
veteran.
Rizzo recently was honored for
his service by participating in the
Gary Sinise Foundation’s Soaring
Valor program — an initiative to
bring WWII era veterans together
at the National World War II Museum
in New Orleans.
The Gary Sinise Foundation
partnered with several organizations
to provide these veterans
with a memorable experience to
say thank you for defending our
country. The program promotes
community building by encouraging
veterans to interact with their
fellow heroes and educate a new
generation by sharing their stories
with high school students. Rizzo
was accompanied by his daughter,
Donna, for this four-day trip in
September.
“The best thing that I can say
about this trip was how absolutely
wonderful everyone at the Gary
Sinise Foundation ... was in organizing
this trip of a lifetime,”
Donna said. “These veterans were
happy to share their stories with
people who were willing to listen.
If their stories aren’t told, they will
be gone.”
Each veteran was paired with a
high school student who was eager
to hear their stories and will
one day carry on their legacy to
future generations. The group featured
roughly 40 WWII era veterans,
their families and friends,
as well as students from the Chicago
area. James was paired with
a young woman from Deerfield
High School named Haley with
whom he and Donna spent most of
the trip.
James Rizzo (right), of Orland
Park, poses for a photo with his
daughter, Donna, and Gary Sinise
during a Soaring Valor program.
“My father and most of the other
vets were able to finally open up
and talk about their experiences,”
Donna said. “It was truly amazing
to hear all their stories and talk
to all of the veterans who lived
through what we were seeing in
the museum. I have nothing but
the deepest respect and admiration
for all veterans who serve our
country and their families who
sacrifice with them while they wait
at home.”
Rizzo was in high school when
he enlisted in the United States
Army Air Corps after the attack on
Pearl Harbor. He received a deferment
until finishing his education.
As he finished basic training
several months later and prepared
to go to Saipan in the Northern
Mariana Islands to fight in the
Pacific, the war came to an end.
Rizzo instead was called to duty
as part of the Occupation Army in
Japan.
“We were in California getting
ready to go to Japan when we
learned that they had dropped an
atomic bomb on Hiroshima,” Rizzo
said. “We all looked at each other
and asked, ‘What is an atomic
bomb?’ Soon after, another bomb
James Rizzo enlisted in the U.S.
Army Air Corps during World War
II. Photos submitted
was dropped on Nagasaki, and Japan
surrendered.”
Rizzo was trained to be an airplane
mechanic but, upon arriving
in Japan, learned that they did not
need any. So, he served as a cook.
He worked hard and lent a helping
hand wherever it was needed. In
fact, he met someone who offered
him the opportunity to work in an
80-room military rest and recreation
hotel on the shores of Mount
Fuji.
“I have never turned anything
down that I thought I could maybe
do,” Rizzo said. “I wanted to give
everything a try.”
Rizzo spent roughly two years
in Japan before being honorably
discharged. It turned out being a
cook was a lucrative experience
for him, because after returning
home and working in the printing
business for nearly 25 years, Rizzo
opened a small restaurant and catering
business in Chicago. He was
in business for himself for roughly
35 years.
Now, Rizzo works part-time, is
an active community member and
a tenor in his church choir, and enjoys
ballroom dancing and watching
football.
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