Diana Hartmann

An Illinois lawmaker from Glen Ellyn who heads a child welfare committee said the state must strengthen its laws and policies to protect homeschooled children facing inadequate education, abuse and neglect.

Shanon Laidig of Woodstock's Creekside Middle School said she was shocked to be named the overall winner. She described the Educator of the Year honor as “an award for many, not just me.”

The winner was picked out of 40 teachers, staff and administrators who were nominated across McHenry County. Along with the Educator of the Year, eight others won in their respective categories as well.

Cary Junior High seventh grader Vishrut Kinikar won the McHenry County spelling bee on Wednesday.

The latest financial audit of the McHenry County Regional Office of Education show many similar issues seen in previous years.

This will be the first time in a couple years McHenry County has participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, McHenry County Regional Superintendent Diana Hartmann said.

McHenry County political candidates lined up Monday morning outside the county clerk’s office for their chance to have their name first on the ballot, as part of the tradition tied to the first day of election filing.

“I’m going to bring a lot of changes to that office and a lot of services are going to be amped up,” said Diana Hartmann, McHenry County's new regional superintendent of education