Gregory J. Weiss is being honored as a professional educator devoted to the arts and humanities. Mr. Weiss is committed to instilling a love of drama and literature in all of his students. He taught speech/drama and English at Homewood Flossmoor High School, and now teaches speech/drama at James Hart Junior High School in Homewood. Mr. Weiss was appointed by the Illinois State Board of Education to the advisory council on learning standards for humanities/drama several years ago. His participation in that group has brought positive attention to Homewood and has led to effective and realistic standards in this curricular area. This past spring, Mr. Weiss launched a major storytelling festival in Homewood that attracted professional storytellers from all over the region, including nationally known Jim May. Students from James Hart Junior High participated by performing their original stories as well as some old favorites. Another focus for Mr. Weiss is his appreciation of and interest in the lives of senior citizens of the Homewood community. He and his students created a dramatic history of Homewood that was performed for, and much enjoyed by, the area''s seniors as part of Homewood''s centennial celebration.
Select Illinois Humanities Council programs are now available for listening or download at Chicago Public Media (WBEZ) as a part of Chicago Amplified, a web-based audio library of diverse public events recorded throughout the Chicago region.
