Granite City Community Unit School District 9 announced on Mar. 20 that Tim Mihu, a paraprofessional at Grigsby Elementary School, has been selected as this week’s staff spotlight for his dedication to supporting students.
The weekly recognition aims to showcase staff members who contribute positively to the student experience throughout the 2025-26 school year. Mihu has worked in the district for seven years and is known for his commitment to helping students with their work and fostering a supportive environment.
Mihu, a 1980 graduate of Granite City North High School, said his favorite part about being a paraprofessional is assisting children with their assignments. “In general, it’s just helping the kids with their work. I enjoy when we work in small groups playing an educational game. The kids really enjoy doing that. They like the competitive nature of it,” Mihu said.
Reflecting on his time in the district, Mihu said he values the friendships he has made over the years rather than any single memory. He also shared what he enjoys most about traffic duty: “If I had to pick a favorite part it would be when it’s a sunny 70 degree day. That’s a good day to be outside doing traffic. Also, when I get a thank you or acknowledgement from a parent for keeping the traffic moving and the job I’m doing.”
Granite City Community Unit School District 9 serves Madison County and includes Coolidge Junior High School, Frohardt Elementary School, Granite City High School, Grigsby Intermediate School, Maryville Elementary School, Mitchell Elementary School, Prather Elementary School, and Wilson Elementary School according to Illinois Report Card. The district enrolled 5,990 students during the 2019-2020 school year and provides education from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade according to Illinois Report Card.
According to the Illinois State Board of Education, there are 320 teachers in Granite City Community Unit School District 9 earning an average salary of $67,898 before pension contributions; women make up 77.1 percent of teachers while men account for 22.9 percent. No teacher in the district had more than ten absences in one school year.
The student population is composed of approximately 65 percent White students, nearly 16 percent Black students, almost 12 percent Hispanic students, and less than one percent Asian students according to ISBE data. In terms of finances, Granite City Community Unit School District 9 spent $17,739 per student in 2020 for a total expenditure of $106 million as reported by Illinois Report Card.
Chronic truancy remains an issue within the district; there were 755 chronically truant students enrolled during the 2020 school year—a rate of about twelve percent—compared with a statewide average of nearly ten percent according to ISBE.
Mihu shared some personal interests as well: “I enjoy camping or glamping as my wife calls it with my family and our two dogs. I also enjoy working on my yard and landscape.”
Community members interested in nominating other deserving staff members are encouraged by the district to email information@gcsd9.net.
