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Forty exemplary educators recognized for their expertise in specific disciplines

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) today joined the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) and the Illinois Education Association (IEA) to honor 40 educators who have been selected by their professional organizations as the best in their fields during the 2016-17 school year. The seventh annual Exemplary Teacher Recognition Luncheon held today in Normal honored education professionals in a wide range of disciplines.  

“These outstanding educators recognized today bring to life the phrase, ‘It takes a village,” said State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith, Ph.D. “Educating each student as a whole child requires talented and dedicated professionals in all disciplines. I want to personally thank them for their tireless efforts to create safe and caring school climates, and for going the extra mile to make their schools places where all children feel welcomed. It is an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to publicly recognize their efforts.”

ISBE, IFT, and IEA co-hosted today’s luncheon at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

“The Illinois Education Association is always proud to help sponsor the Teacher Recognition Luncheon, a wonderful way to thank and acknowledge Illinois’ many outstanding educators,” said IEA President Cinda Klickna. “The award winners have shown exemplary teaching in each of their fields, and they remind us that great education is being delivered to our students every day in every school in Illinois.”

ISBE administers the Those Who Excel program each fall, naming a Teacher of the Year and recognizing more than 200 educators nominated by their districts or members of their communities for outstanding service. Township High School District 214’s Ricardo Castro, was named the 2017 Illinois Teacher of the Year. Castro teaches English as a Second Language, Language Arts, and Spanish at Elk Grove High School. The annual Exemplary Teacher Recognition Award Luncheon provides an opportunity to honor other award-winning teachers from across the state.

“Teachers and school staff have some of the hardest and most important jobs in the world,” said IFT President Dan Montgomery. “They provide our students with support and offer them opportunities to grow, often with few resources. These outstanding educators have gone above and beyond, and it’s an honor to recognize them for their enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment.”

The following exemplary educators were recognized today:       

Educator

Recognition

Organization

School

John Benson

Distinguished Life Achievement

in Mathematics Award

Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Evanston High School

(Retired)

Linda Carlson

Secondary Physical Education

Teacher of the Year, National Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year

Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

Oak Park & River Forest High School

Martha Carman

Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year

Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

Edison Park Elementary School

Elizabeth Chambers

IACTE New Teacher of the Year

Illinois Association for Career & Technical Education

Freeport School District 145

Mary Catherine Coleman

2017 Collaborative School Library Award

American Association of School Librarians

Francis Parker School

Laura Coster

2017 Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence

Illinois Music Education Association

Downers Grove South High School

Kristin Davin

Illinois Foreign Language Distinguished Service Award

Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

Loyola University

Eva Detloff

School Nurse Administrator of the Year

Illinois Association of School Nurses

Barrington CUSD 220

Elaine Dively

Illinois Foreign Language Distinguished Service Award

Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

Oswego High School

Sandra Duniphan

School Nutrition Champion

Illinois State Board of Education

Pontiac-William Holliday School District 105

Chris Fish

Young Professional Physical Education Teacher of the Year

Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

Prairie Grove Junior High School

Leslie Forsman

Illinois Reading Council Service Award

Illinois Reading Council

Triopia CUSD 27

Sandra Gonzalez

Illinois New Teacher

of Foreign Language

Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

West Aurora High School

Kelley Guzik

Illinois Foreign Language Distinguished Service Award

Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

Glenbrook North High School

Kaitlyn Hall

Young Professional Health Teacher of the Year

Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

Central Middle School

Katrina Hayes

Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year

Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

Clinton Elementary School

Linda Kimel

School Nurse of the Year

Illinois Association of School Nurses

Rockford Public School District 205

Maria Isabel Marquez

Family Literacy Award

Illinois Reading Council

Community Consolidated School District 93

Carrie Mayville

Farris Rural Library Award

Illinois Reading Council

Waltonville CUSD 1

Tim McDermott

IACTE Teacher of the Year

Illinois Association for Career & Technical Education

Waterloo High School

Erik McNeil

Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year

Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

Maine West High School

Jerry Miceli

Adventure Teacher of the Year

Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

Vernon Hills High School

Andy Milne

Midwest Health Education Teacher of the Year and American National Health Teacher of the Year

Society of Health and Physical Education

New Trier High School

John O’Malley

Illinois Promising New Teacher Award

Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Glenbrook South High School

Don Porzio

Lee Yunker Mathematics Leadership Award

Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

Anita Reid

Excellence in Secondary Mathematics Teaching Award (T.E. Rines Award)

Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Lewistown High School

Ryan Rockaitis

Illinois Foreign Language Teacher of the Year

Illinois Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages

Deerfield High School

Daria Schaffeld

2017 APA TOPSS Charles T. Blair-Broker Excellence in Teaching Award

American Psychology  Association’s  Committee of Teachers of Psychology

Prospect High School

Shannon Schroeder

Illinois Computing Teacher of the Year

Illinois Computing Educators

Homer Junior High School

 

Richard Stachon

Middle Level Art Educator of the Year

Illinois Art Education Association

Glen Crest Middle School

Christopher Sykora

Illinois Early Profession Award

Illinois Art Education Association

Deerfield High School

Gina Szulkowski

Secondary Art Educator of the Year

Illinois Art Education Association

Steinmetz College Preparatory School

Bev Taylor

Jerry Johns Reading Educator of the Year

Illinois Reading Council

Wasco Elementary School

Susan Tiemstra

Elementary Art Teacher of the Year

Illinois Art Education Association

Community Consolidated School District 181

Meghan Tippy-King

Barack Obama Library Award

Illinois Reading Council

Whiteside School District 115

Alaina Weatherford

Farris Rural Library Award

Illinois Reading Council

Rutland Grade School

Glenn Williams

2017 Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence

Illinois Music Education Association

Downers Grove South High School

Melinda Wilson

Dance Teacher of the Year and National Dance Teacher of the Year Award

Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

Curie Metropolitan High School

Nicole Wisniewski

Farris Rural Library Award

Illinois Reading Council

Waltonville CUSD 1

John Zilewicz

2016 Art Educator of the Year

Illinois Art Education Association

Niles West High School

 

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