THE LIFELINE FOR STUDENTS & SCHOOLS

West40 helped arrange for the gift of a good night’s sleep for more than thirty families from across West Cook County on Monday, thanks to a generous donation. On a blistering cold day outside, residents selected from more than one hundred new mattresses, as well as pillows, bed frames and more inside the St. Joseph gymnasium. Leslie from Berwyn said she learned about the free mattresses from the Heart 2 Heart Food Mart.  “We were in need of them and with the holidays coming

Hailey Muellner compares working on cars to a big, satisfying puzzle. “It makes me excited because I get to take it apart, see how it works, and see how all of it connects. It’s never-ending of essentially learning,” Muellner said. Muellner is a certified auto mechanic who started her career journey in a high school trades program. Later she earned an associates degree in automotive technology and gained valuable experience working at privately-owned auto repair shops and car

West40 congratulates Dr. Nick Polyak, superintendent of Leyden High School District 212, for being named the 2026 Illinois Superintendent of the Year by an independent panel commissioned by the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA). According to the IASA, nominees are judge d on the following criteria: academic achievement, preparing students for the future, social-emotional support, teaching and instruction and leadership. “Dr. Polyak’s recognition as the 2026