THESE 29 ILLINOIS TEACHERS WERE HONORED FOR OUTSTANDING WORK IN THE CLASSROOM

JUN 13, 2014
Reboot Illinois

It is summer vacation time in Illinois and with the kids out of school, the state took time to recognize some of the top teachers in the state this past year. This past week the 4th Annual Exemplary Teacher Recognition Award Luncheon was held, honoring 29 Illinois teacher with various awards. The luncheon was put on by the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education Association, according to the Daily Herald. More on the luncheon from the Daily Herald:

The Illinois State Board of Education and the two largest teacher unions — Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education Association — presented the educators with awards for their exemplary work in the classroom during a luncheon Wednesday at the governor’s mansion in Springfield.“With Illinois implementing new learning standards to prepare students for a global workforce, the expertise and skills of these outstanding teachers is invaluable,” State Superintendent of Education Christopher Koch said in a news release. “Their knowledge and passion for teaching in a variety of curriculum areas is an integral component of student success. We are pleased to have the opportunity to extend our thanks and appreciation for their commitment to Illinois’ students and education.”This was the fourth annual Exemplary Teacher Recognition Award Luncheon hosted by the state board and the two state teacher associations. The winners were selected by their professional education organizations.

It is separate from the state board’s Teacher of the Year Award given out each fall and the Those Who Excel program, which recognizes more than 150 educators nominated by their own districts or community members for outstanding service.

The State Journal-Register has more information on the luncheon as well:

State Board of Education officials say teachers were chosen as the “best in their field of expertise” by a number of state and national professional education organizations and other groups and agencies.

The Illinois Art Education Association, for instance, is giving out an award for its pick for best elementary art teacher of the year. The Illinois Farm Bureau is giving an award to its pick for the best agriculture teacher of the year.

Below is a list of the 29 teachers from Illinois who were honored at the event, along with their schools and locations:

Joanna Angelopoulos, Gary M. Sanborn Elementary, Palatine

Eryn Blaser, Meadow Ridge School, Orland Park

Cathy Axen‐Britts, Central Middle School, Burlington

Lindsey Dickinson, Evans Junior High School, Bloomington

Peter Duffer, Buffalo Grove High School, Buffalo Grove

Tom Dwyer, Oswego High School, Oswego

Linda Egnatz, Lincoln‐Way North High School, Frankfort

Patrick Fardy, South High School, Downers Grove

Laura Font, Madison Elementary School, Lombard

Danielle Gladstone, Mohawk Intermediate Center, Park Forest

Kathryn Hillyer, Kipling Elementary School, Deerfield

Angie Hughes, Maine East High School, Park Ridge

Ray Kinzie, Hitch Elementary School, Chicago

Brittney Klemenswicz, Wentworth Junior High School, Calumet City

Bryan Lake, Urbana School District 116, Urbana

Adam Koester, Edwardsville High School, Edwardsville

Will Navis, Lincoln Elementary School, St. Charles

Justin Nowak, Bateman Elementary School, Chicago

Jennifer Rambole, Kenneth D. Bailey Academy, Danville

Kyle Osborne, Villa Grove High School, Villa Grove

Melissa Righter, Cicero West Elementary School, Cicero

David Schultz, Maine East High School, Park Ridge

Gustavo Silva, Richmond Intermediate School, St. Charles

Courtney Thomas, Kingsley Elementary School, Naperville

Jeanette Thompson, CICS Northtown Academy, Chicago

Carrie Toth, Carlyle High School, Carlyle

Margot Van Dyke, O’Neil Middle School, Downers Grove

Rebecca Vieyra, Cary Grove High School, Cary

Deborah Zeilner, Joseph Gary Elementary School, Chicago

For the full list including which awards each teacher received and which organizations honored them, check out the link here.

NEXT ARTICLE Reboot Illinois poll: Rauner holds early lead in Illinois governor’s race

1. Illinois congressional races: Who’s got what
2. Will a California judge’s ruling on teacher tenure have repercussions across the country?
3. Dear Mr. Rauner: It’s due time. How will you budget?
4.  New study ranks most corrupt states in U.S.
5. Dear Michael Madigan: If you’re “not here for employers,” for whom are you here?Brendan Bond is a staff writer at Reboot Illinois. He is a graduate of Loyola University, where he majored in journalism. Brendan takes a look each day at the Land of Lincoln Lowdown and it’s often pretty low. He examines the property tax rates that drive Illinoisans insane. You can findReboot on Facebook and on Twitter @rebootillinois.