Streamwood High names English teacher new principal

• School District U-46 appointed Jennifer Van Deusen principal of Streamwood High School. Van Deusen, who brings more than a decade of experience in U-46 to her new position, joined U-46 as an English teacher at Elgin and South Elgin high schools.

She later served as a dean of students and, in 2014, was named associate principal at Bartlett High School. In June, she was named interim principal at Streamwood High School.

Van Deusen holds an undergraduate degree in English from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, a Master of Science in educational leadership from the University of New England, and a Doctoral degree in ethical leadership from Olivet Nazarene University.

According to U-46, Van Deusen is "dedicated to fostering a culture of lifelong learning through student-focused and intervention-based instruction."

• Family Law Attorney Miriam Cooper was recently sworn in by the Honorable Pamela Loza as the new Northwest Suburban Bar Association president.

Each year, a new president takes the helm for the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, the tradition continued when new officers and the board of governors were sworn in.

The Honorable Jill Cerone-Marisie installed the executive council officers for the new fiscal year. They include Gary Newland, first vice president; Moe Ahmad, second vice president; Kenneth Apicella, treasurer; and Anthony Calzaretta, secretary.

Judge Cerone-Marisie also installed the new board of governors for 2019-2020: Jonathan Anderson, Robert Boszko, Allen Gabe, Patricia Jochum, Raj Jutla and Joseph Vito. Kristina Buchthal Alkass is the association attorney and Tracy Callahan is the parliamentarian.

After her installation, Cooper thanked Executive Director Julie Barth and office administrators Christine and Sharon at the Northwest Suburban Bar Association office. She also thanked her family members, Rabbi Lifshitz, attorneys Shawn McKenna and Brandy Wisher and her office staff.

• Colleen M. Hurley, an attorney at Schaumburg-based Lavelle Law, was certified as a Guardian ad Litem and Child Representative in Cook County. A Guardian ad Litem is an attorney appointed by a judge to investigate the best interests of a child in divorce or custody cases.

The process to become a Guardian ad Litem and Child Representative took roughly two years, as Hurley had to complete training and three pro bono Child Rep cases through Chicago Volunteer Legal Services in the Domestic Relations Division in Cook County. Hurley earned her J.D. and Certificate in Family Law from DePaul University College of Law.

Hurley's desire to work with children began at an early age and was confirmed after interning at the Children's Advocacy Center in Champaign County while earning her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois. It was here that she saw a great need for advocacy for children in crisis.

• U.S. Air Force Airman Connor R. McCluskey graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

McCluskey is a 2019 graduate of Maine West High School, Des Plaines.

• Schaumburg native Brina Kay, a singer songwriter, recently released her third single, "Heat of the Moment," produced by Mike Anderson, a Nashville-based composer and producer.

"Heat of the Moment" was inspired by the city of Chicago. Kay said memories of going downtown with family and friends for sporting events, concerts and music festivals, specifically the city's annual Lollapalooza, influenced the song's production and lyrics.

The single will also be accompanied by a music video filmed in Chicago and directed by Joshua Lockhart of J. Lockhart Media.

Last March, Kay released her first single out of Nashville, "Horizon," which has surpassed 45,000 streams on Spotify and was nominated for the Best Singing and Best Song awards by the SongBro podcast.

Her second single, "Rome," was released in June and she is set to release a fourth this month. "Heat of the Moment" is available on most streaming services.

• Submit your Neighbors in the News items to Norrine Twohey at ntwohey@dailyherald.com.