City of Chicago Resolution for Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools, Sacred Heart Schools A resolution adopted by the The City Council of the City of Chicago, Illinois Presented by Alderman Harry Osterman, 48th Ward
Whereas, the members of the Chicago City Council wish to recognize the leadership of Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools, Sacred Heart Schools-Sheridan Road, the Academy of the Sacred Heart and Hardey Preparatory; and
Whereas, Nat Wilburn, affectionately known as Mr. Wilburn to the 700 students of Sacred Heart Schools, has served with distinction as Head of Schools of Sheridan Road for 16 years and as a Sacred Heart educator for 23 years; and
Whereas, Mr. Wilburn, the first lay leader of Sheridan Road, led the school through its largest capital campaign which raised nearly $10 million toward the creation of new classrooms, the installation of a turf field, the institution of the Initiatives for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, the hiring of the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, the start of an endowment for tuition assistance, and the expansion of professional development for faculty and staff; and
Whereas, Mr. Wilburn significantly expanded the Schools' co-curricular offerings for students, including hiring a Director of Student Life and Director of Equity and Inclusion, offering a robust before- and after-school program, growing the athletics program into the largest of any grade school in the City of Chicago, adopting an Equity and Inclusion Statement, and supporting Sacred Heart community members in equity and inclusion education; and
Whereas, Mr. Wilburn helped to bring Sacred Heart education to young children, expanding the school's mission and offerings to 3- and 4-year-olds upon opening the Sacred Heart Preschool at Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in August 2019; and
Whereas, Mr. Wilburn served as Chair of the Board of the Conference of Sacred Heart education, served as Chair of the Independent Schools Association of the Central States Board, is active in the Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools; and
Whereas, Mr. Wilburn fostered relationships within the Edgewater community, particularly with Loyola University Chicago, Metropolis Coffee Company, the 48th Ward office, the Edgewater Community Religious Association, Ismaili Community Center and Jamatkhana, Emmanuel Congregation, and area public schools through the Edgewater Youth United program; and
Whereas, Mr. Wilburn successfully navigated the school through two accreditations by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, three evaluation visits by the Sacred Heart Commission on Goals, three strategic plans, and the adoption of the "Portrait of a Sacred Heart Graduate"; and
Whereas, Mr. Wilburn increased accessibility to the school through the expansion of tuition assistance and enlarged the student population to include students from 12 zip codes, eight religions, 40 languages, and created International Night, an annual event celebrating the diversity within the Sacred Heart community; and
Whereas, Mr. Wilburn fostered relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents of alumni, Religious of the Sacred Heart, and friends, and honored St. Madeleine Sophie Barat's founding mission of Sacred Heart education: that each Sacred Heart community member knows that they are loved by God and, consequently, shares that love with others; and
Whereas, Mr. Wilburn, amongst doing all of these good things, also knows that a remarkable education comes from the heart. For sharing his heart and demonstrating how to have fun at (including, but not limited to) the following activities: wearing a costume at the Schools' Halloween Parades and participating in the Halloween dance, eagerly participating in the Ice Bucket Challenge, reading the story Twas the Night Before Christmas to students, and even riding in a golf cart at the Class of 2020's graduation;
Be it resolved, that we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this 24th day of February, 2021, do hereby express our deepest gratitude to Mr. Wilburn for his leadership of Sacred Heart Schools, founded in Chicago in 1876 and now an anchor in the Edgewater Community of Chicago.
Harry Osterman, Alderman, 48th Ward