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 |