AAR is in the process of hiring 100 experienced wide and narrow-body aircraft mechanics for its new Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the Chicago Rockford International Airport.

ROCKFORD

Former Huskies star, East coach Kube dead at age 29

Alex Kube, a four-year starter who earned freshman All-American honors as an NIU linebacker at Northern Illinois University, died at age 29 last week.

Kube recently had his own sports training company — Top Performance/Elite 7 — and served as a Rockford East High School assistant coach.

No cause of death was announced after he reportedly collapsed at home. An autopsy by the Winnebago County coroner was pending late last week.

New campaign highlights outstandings RPS alumni

​Rockford Public Schools have announced a new media campaign called Our Alumni Rock to highlight former students who gained skills of leadership, critical thinking, collaboration and listening to different points of view throughout their education at RPS 205.

The campaign began this month. The following alumni will be profiled – one ​per week – on an RPS 205 blog:

• Anqunette Parham, Auburn High School (1999), former public health advocate and future attorney;
• Paul Thome, East High School (1969), president of Sallie Mae Bank;
• Dr. Zach Morris, Guilford High School (1998), assistant professor, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine;
• Brittany Glidden, Jefferson High School (1998), journalism teacher at East High School;
• Melissa Cadena, Roosevelt Alternative High School (2012), quality control at Fastenal, Loves Park

In addition to the blog, these alumni will be featured on social media and on rps205.com.

After each RPS 205 high school is represented, additional alumni will be highlighted to continue the campaign at rps205.com/OurAlumniRock.

Students will also see posters in the schools featuring successful alumni. The posters will be tangible reminders of the importance of college and career readiness. They will also prove to current RPS 205 students that you can get there from here.

The former students, in turn, are grateful for the foundation of their public school education. “I can never really pay back the many wonderful teachers from Rockford who shaped my education, but I do hope to carry on in their tradition,” Dr. Morris said.

Ehren Jarrett said the alumni are excellent examples of all you can be and do with a Rockford Public Schools education. The alumni project shows students that setting goals – even very big ones – is a prerequisite for success. “As proud as I am of our past contributions – to the community and the world – I know our future contributions are going to be even better,” he said.

AAR announces plans to hire 100 mechanics

AAR (the new Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the Chicago Rockford International Airport – RFD) is hiring 100 experienced wide, & narrow-body aircraft mechanics immediately.

This recent announcement will signal that even more momentum is gearing up in the Rockford Region. AAR’s facility at RFD pushes the narrative that the “Third Airport” in Illinois is ready to become a global maintenance hub, as well as an anchor for economic development.  This facility enables the region to compete more aggressively for additional air cargo and logistics operations to continue to support the region’s core industries and the growing trends in online fulfillment.

AAR is moving quickly in their new facility from startup/ribbon-cutting in December 2016, to turning wrenches in January 2017, to now hiring 100 A&Ps in February 2017 (in addition to the 30 hired over the last 6 weeks).

For experience requirements and job listings visit AARCorp.com.

Video now aded to reading app

Rockford Public Library and United Way of Rock River Valley have announced a partnership to add video recordings of all Success By 6 school readiness book titles on the library’s existing mobile app.

Launched in July 2016, the library app features services and resources, including a Look, Listen & Learn Storytime section that encourages reading. Recorded by library staff and read in both English and Spanish, the library will release a new school readiness book to coincide with United Way’s monthly Page Turner Reading Program.

“No matter where you are, if your reading skills are limited and neither English nor Spanish are your native languages, you can sit with your child, snuggle up and ‘read’ stories,” said Lynn Stainbrook, executive director of Rockford Public Library.

Over 4,000 children in pre-K programs in Harlem and Rockford school districts, City of Rockford Head Start, Diocese of Rockford, and Rockford Lutheran School each receive a brand new book of their very own each month through United Way’s Page Turner Reading Program. Parents and educators also receive early childhood learning information. In addition to the book recordings, the app provides a spelling test as an educational component. The expansion of the Look, Listen & Learn Storytime app feature, which is available on Android and iPhone systems, is made possible through a grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.

–Winnebago County News Briefs–