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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING JEAN BERNSTEIN’S LIFE AND CAREER ON HER 100th BIRTHDAY
WHEREAS, it is estimated that over 300,000 students in Cook County’s south suburbs were directly impacted by the life and work of educator Jean Bernstein; and
WHEREAS, Jean Bernstein, nee Collier, was born in Grand Rapids on February 12th, 1925, and moved to Freeport, Il as a young girl; and
WHEREAS, Jean Bernstein attended the University of Iowa and during a summer job in Chicago, she met her future husband George Bernstein (1917 - 2011); and
WHEREAS, after living briefly in Chicago after graduation, Jean and George Bernstein moved to the south suburb Park Forest. There, she began her educational career as a kindergarten teacher; and
WHEREAS, in 1962, Jean Bernstein completed her masters in economics at the University of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Jean Bernstein was motivated by her liberal politics, eschewing for profit organizations to work directly with school districts in underserved areas; and
WHEREAS, after her time as a kindergarten teacher, Jean Bernstein became the coordinator for the Rich Township School District 163 gifted program; and
WHEREAS, in 1969, Jean Bernstein was appointed School District 163’s desegregation officer, tasked with integrating one all black school with ten all white schools; and
WHEREAS, in 1981, Jean Bernstein was appointed assistant superintendent of curriculum and planning, and was promoted to superintendent of District 163 the following year; and
WHEREAS, although Jean Bernstein initially retired in 1984, she returned as interim superintendent three times, in 1994, 1996, and 2002; and
WHEREAS, working with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Jean Bernstein co-chaired the docent program and worked tirelessly in various committees and fundraising efforts. She continued her blend of arts support and educational activities, chairing the Arts in Education Committee for the Center of Performing Arts at Governors State University; and
WHEREAS, her work allowed 30,000 children annually to attend Center performances. Jean was instrumental in bringing Harriet Tubman and Anne Frank performances to theater, allowing young girls to identify with their history. She further increased children’s interest in learning by providing books to students who attended these shows, often times the first books these students owned; and
WHEREAS, Jean Bernstein continued to raise funds to give children new educational and cultural experiences, such as raising money for schools to see local theater and distribute tickets to shows through the Medhurst Children’s Fund; and
WHEREAS, Jean Bernstein always worked to make education exciting and inclusive for all. While in hospice care in 2015, she was still hard at work as a consultant for District 163, dictating a curriculum to her daughter, Julie; and
WHEREAS, Jean Bernstein was a mother to David, Mark, Julie and Peter, and a grandmother to Graham Johnston, Kellen Johnston Bowers, and Will Bernstein; and
WHEREAS, her children and grandchildren greatly benefited from her educational instincts. She was the first to offer her help with school projects and homework for her grandchildren, taking special interest in family tree history and school performances; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Jean Bernstein’s life and career as an educator made an indelible and sustained impact on the lives and education of countless children throughout the South Suburbs, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, do hereby honor the life and work of Jean Bernstein on her 100th Birthday in February of 2025.
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