FEATURING RESIDENTS WHO INSPIRE THE COMMUNITY IN THEIR OWN UNIQUE WAY

Each year Glancer Magazine features a distinct group of everyday residents who are doing extraordinary things, making a difference in the lives of others by giving them hope, guidance or inspiration. Each story will touch your heart and awaken your spirit. Here are Glancer Magazine's 15 Fascinating Faces of 2019.

Rita Patel of Naperville/Glen Ellyn

As the recipient of the Early Career Teaching Award from the Illinois Section of the Mathematical Association of America, Rita’s sleepless nights to get through her master’s and doctoral programs came full circle since she took a chance on something that was totally outside her plan of marketing, management, and the financial industry to pursue her true passion.

Rita enjoys sharing her enthusiasm as one of the original founding members of the leadership team for the Southwest Chicago Math Teachers’ Circle which provides professional development to in-service K-12 math teachers.

Yoga and Pilates round out her daily life as an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the College of DuPage and she lives by the theory of accepting when things go wrong and persisting onward until you get it right. -Kristen Kucharski

Photo by Mike Mantucca

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