The Raise a Glass for Ray 2025 Committee: Kenya Butts, Cindy Cambray, Sasha Cervantes, Kendalyn Diroll, Dani Guirand, Jon Heuring, Bill Housewright, Rebecca Incledon, Myron Lewis, Katie Yocum Musisi, Ulrich Rechenbach, Allie Richardson, Arielle A. Thompson, Mennie Thompson, Allie Wunderlich
Sponsors:
Robert Peters, Green Mountain Financial, University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement, Southside Food Allergy Caregiver Support, Medici
In-Kind Donors:
play Hyde Park, Ascione Bistro, Yoga Six, All-Star Seafood & Sports, Roux, Insomina Cookies, Kenwood Schol of Ballet, Noodles, Cotsco, Jet's Pizza, Mathnasium, Erielle Bakkum Photography, La Boulangerie, Anthos Training Clubs, Chicago Chorale, The Revival, 606 Karate, A. Ashley Designs, A&S Beverages
Anne and Aaron Collard
Woods Residential Evaluation and Inspection
Allie Wunderlich
Katie Yocum Musisi, Cole’s Bar
Happy Nails
Lesle Honore
Wesley’s Shoes
Terri Smith
Paul Staniland
Avner and Osnat Strulov-Shlain, 57th Street Wines
Stayce Comparo
William Estrada
Fiber Friends Studio
Gary Hom, Park Community Church, Hyde Park
Hyde Park Community Players
Meet Ms. Bethanie Smith
Bethanie’s teaching career began more than 29 years ago. She has taught
preschool at Ray Elementary since 2006. She earned her master’s in
Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University and is a Nationally Board-
Certified Teacher (NBCT). She currently serves as the Primary Team Lead,
Garden Coordinator, and member of the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT).
She is most passionate about mathematics. She has participated in various
math-related professional development opportunities, including the Erikson
Institute Early Childhood Math Initiative, conducting Everyday Math training for
colleagues, and serving as a Network Leader/Teacher Leader Facilitator for
Network 9 in conjunction with the Office of Early Childhood Education. She
strives to provide innovative, developmentally appropriate math activities for
her students. Participating in and leading training keeps her up to date on the
latest developmentally appropriate math activities for her students.
She
believes that each school year brings exciting new learning experiences that
hopefully cultivate a love of learning in our students. She also thoroughly
enjoys engaging her students in project-based learning experiences.
Spending time in the various Ray gardens and in nature is one of the
highlights of the extended outdoor classroom. Her love of the outdoors stems
from growing up in rural southern Illinois and gardening with her father. She
also loves to bake and often shares her desserts with her beloved Ray family.
When she is not enjoying the great city of Chicago, she loves to travel to
southern Illinois to visit family (especially her nephew) and childhood friends.
Meet Ms. Cynthia Annorh
I was born in Accra, Ghana and came to Chicago in August of 1977. I love to travel, be out in nature, and spend time with my friends and family. I also enjoy reading, exercising, cooking, and definitely dancing! I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and my master’s from DePaul University.
My teaching career began almost 28 years ago at Ray Elementary School. I’ve taught in many different capacities: as a 1st Grade teacher, 2nd Grade teacher, 3rd Grade teacher, and as a Primary Interventionist. Currently, I’m a 2nd Grade teacher.
At present, I’m a member of the Instructional Leadership Team(ILT), the coordinator of the Out of School Time(OST)program, and a PilotLight Fellow. As a PilotLight Fellow, I incorporate food standards across the curriculum. Last year, I worked with A Seat at the Table in partnership with the Evolved Network initiative where students learned about food education and how it impacts their health and environment. In 2006, The University of Chicago employed me as a presenter for the Everyday Mathematics program which was instituted in many schools throughout the state.
I believe…“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character- that is the goal of true education.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.