Articles

Express Employment Professionals’ Kayla Edwards, the managing partner overseeing the Springfield, Jacksonville and Bloomington locations, sees a post-pandemic reset in staffing.  “After a period of elevated demand and fluctuation coming out of the pandemic, the staffing industry is seeing a more balanced and sustainable phase,” she said. “Employers are once again able to focus on […]

Jennifer Gill is a champion for Springfield School District 186 – its students, staff, teachers, administrators and families, but her influence extends far beyond the district. She is a collaborator and deeply engaged in the community. Gill is retiring as District 186 superintendent on June 30 after 12 years of outstanding leadership. A product of […]

Dr. Richa Pandey-Kochar sees approximately 30 patients a day as a nephrologist at Springfield Clinic, yet she still finds time to give back to the community she now calls home. Pandey-Kochar grew up in Mumbai, India, and describes Springfield as a “welcoming” community that gives her every opportunity to express her “whole self.”  Pandey-Kochar says […]

Helen Lea Moose began taking dance lessons at the age of 4, and her passion for dance was ignited. As a teenager, she knew wholeheartedly she wanted to be a professional dancer, but when it came time to prepare for college her father wanted her to “have a real job.”  Being the middle daughter of […]

Barbara “Barb” Malany is an ambassador of goodwill in all she does. She is a businesswoman, teacher, civic leader, mother and humanitarian.  Barb was one of the first women in the Rotary Club of Springfield, and gives of herself in her role as a Rotarian. Rotary is a service club that provides humanitarian service, encourages […]

For 116 years, St. Patrick Catholic School has been an educational cornerstone on Springfield’s east side – a small school with big ambitions for the children it has served. At the end of this school year, its classrooms will fall silent. School leaders announced this month that St. Patrick Catholic School, founded in 1910, will […]

Advance Illinois has released its most recent findings about education in Illinois. “The State We’re In 2025: A Report on Public Education in Illinois” presents data that should give us pause and spur action. These findings, coupled with major federal cuts in education, pose serious challenges for school districts and their students. Advance Illinois is […]