Photo courtesy of Kitty Ryan
Kitty Ryan has seen the impact of NEF since its beginning.
She began her career in Naperville 203 as a third grade teacher, and continued working in the district in various capacities until she eventually became Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education.
After retiring, she became NEF’s Interim Executive Director for a year.
“When I retired, NEF was in transition, so our current Superintendent, Dan, asked me if I would be the Interim,” Kitty explained.
After her stint as Interim Executive Director of NEF, Kitty served on the Board of Trustees for six years, three of which were spent as Board Chair. For the past two years, she has lent her expertise to NEF’s Board of Trustees as a Board Advisor.
“What I enjoy most about being on the Board or being an Advisor is the fact that it is so active,” said Kitty. “NEF doesn’t just say ‘This is what we did last, and this is what we're still going to do, and this is all we do.’ The board is extremely engaged and always looking for the next best thing. That's what I find the most rewarding and exciting.”
While Kitty has been directly involved with NEF for nine years, her history with the foundation extends to its earliest. As Principal of Kingsley Elementary School, she saw firsthand how the resources NEF provides can change the lives of Naperville 203 students.
“As a Principal, I could see the benefit of NEF because it directly affected our Kingsley students,” Kitty said. “I got very involved with NEF because of all of the work NEF did for our elementary schools.”
She had one experience in particular that demonstrated the tremendous impact that NEF makes throughout Naperville 203.
“When I was Principal, we had two very, very large special education classrooms for children that needed significant resources,” Kitty explained. “We had one young man, a fifth grader, who had cerebral palsy, and was wheelchair bound, which meant that any time he wanted to go anywhere, he needed to be pushed.”
One of Kingsley Elementary School’s social workers noticed this need and applied for a Kid Booster Anonymous Grant to fund a motorized wheelchair for this student.
“We got it right before winter break, and I’ll never forget him going around the LRC in circles shouting, ‘Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!’” Kitty shared. “I’ll never forget seeing him in that chair and thinking ‘Wow, this is wonderful.’ To be able to do this for a student and make his school world accessible to him and allowing him to go wherever he wanted.”
Because of her experience with this student, Kitty remains devoted to Kid Booster Anonymous. She currently serves as the Chair of the Grant Committee, which reviews all Kid Booster Anonymous applications.
Kitty has remained engaged with NEF for nearly 30 years, and has had the opportunity to see it grow and impact the students of Naperville 203 in different ways.
“I’m most proud of the evolution of NEF,” Kitty shared. “NEF was a wonderful organization always, but it did the same thing and responded in the same way.”
Over the years Kitty has watched NEF evolve and do more throughout the district.
“As people come to NEF for assistance or with a wonderful new idea, our answer should always be yes. Not ‘First, jump through this hoop and now do this, then that.’ It’s all about making processes as flexible and responsible as possible,” she said. “And to see our Board so engaged and so active in conversations about doing more for our students and teachers is something that I find most exciting.”
After dedicating her life to a career in education and serving the community, Kitty still likes to remain engaged.
“I think that even when you’re retired you still have to contribute. You still have to be a part of the community where you live. You gotta do something that makes a difference for people,” she said.
“NEF asks ‘What is it that a child needs to really feel like he or she belongs? To really feel like, I have a reason to go to school today,’” Kitty adds. “That's what NEF does. We see the dream of a child or a teacher, and we make sure that the funds are available to make their dream a reality. Whether it's a child's dream or need, or a teacher's dream, those are the things that keep people coming back every day to school.”
