HONORARY RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, After almost ten years of service and leadership of the highest quality as Principal of Kilmer Elementary in the Rogers Park neighborhood, Jean Papagianis is stepping down from her post, leaving behind a legacy of accomplishment and excellence; and
WHEREAS, When Ms. Papagianis first took the position of interim principal in April of 2013, the school was literally in shambles, from having received the lowest school rating of "Probation" to a building in such bad repair that barrels caught water in the halls and walls were held up by duct-tape; and
WHEREAS, Principal Papagianis worked tirelessly to create a school that could be the pride of the faculty, the neighborhood, and most importantly, the students; and
WHEREAS, After just four years of her leadership, Kilmer rose from probationary status to Level 1 - a school that now offers geometry, STEAM, and Spanish, and is recognized as one of Chicago's highest performing schools; and
WHEREAS, In August of 2013, Principal Papagianis oversaw the opening of an Advocate Health Clinic and its expansion in 2018 by Tapestry (formerly Heartland Health), providing students with annual physicals, immunizations, and immediate assessment of illness and school-related injuries, thereby significantly improving their health, and reducing school-time missed; and
WHEREAS, Needing to create a school building that is warm, safe, and dry, Principal Papagianis and her LSC won funding in the Fall of 2018 for a $7 million restoration project to install a new roof, refurbish masonry, repair and paint interiors, and more; and
WHEREAS, Principal Papagianis recognized that an International Baccalaureate Programme would best serve Kilmer's diverse and motivated student body, she persisted for three years, writing applications with her faculty and LSC; and in 2021, Kilmer was selected for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) - the first-ever special academic program awarded to any Rogers Park school; and
WHEREAS, During the following year and a half, Principal Papagianis and her faculty established a Spanish language program and participated in countless hours of intensive IB training, which culminated in the school being granted International Baccalaureate "Candidate Status," the next step before Kilmer is accredited as a fully-recognized IB World School; and
WHEREAS, Principal Papagianis supported her art and music faculty as they brought over 30 unique partnerships to Kilmer, including Lifeline Theatre, Old Town School of Folk Music, Kalapriya Dance, Opera for All, and a three-year program to produce Disney musicals, and also created a large outdoor mosaic mural with the Green Star Movement in the Spring of 2019; and
WHEREAS, The development of ALL children is integral to a healthy school, Principal Papagianis established Kilmer as a hub for special needs students, providing inclusive, clustered, and multi-sensory classrooms, pre-K to 8, while championing restorative justice for the entire school, resulting in student suspensions dropping from nine per hundred in 2013 to zero by 2019; and
WHEREAS, In less than ten years, by securing significant investments, creating countless partnerships, and initiating world-class programs, Jean Papagianis has transformed Kilmer from a failing neighborhood school into one of undeniable success and deep pride for Rogers Park; and
WHEREAS, Alderwoman Maria E. Hadden, the teachers, staff, students, and families of Kilmer school, and the Rogers Park community will forever be grateful for the exceptional achievements of Jean Papagianis and will deeply miss her leadership, energy, and Cougar Spirit; and
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this nineteenth day of April, 2023, do hereby thank Jean Papagianis for her immeasurable and transformative contributions to the Kilmer Elementary community and wish her the best in all endeavors going forward; and
BE IT RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jean Papagianis.
Maria E.E. Hadden Samantha Nugent
Alderperson, 49th Ward Alderperson, 39th Ward