The
State Board of Education will honor more than 200 of the state’s outstanding
teachers, administrators and community members for their contributions
to education through the 28th annual Those Who Excel/Illinois
Teacher of the Year awards program.
The
award winners will be recognized April 13 at a banquet at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel, 3000 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield.
The banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will culminate with
the presentation of the 2002-2003 Illinois Teacher of the Year.
The
categories for recognition are classroom teacher; school administrator;
student support personnel; education service personnel; and school
board member/community volunteer.
The Team category recognizes groups of teachers and administrators;
citizen committees; civic organizations; parent organizations; school
boards; booster clubs and others that have had a significant impact
on teaching and learning in a school or district.
Learning Organizations recognize entire schools or districts
that have had a systematic impact on teaching and learning in a school
or district.
“The
level of commitment and dedication these educators demonstrate daily
to help our students is remarkable,” said State Superintendent Respicio
F. Vazquez. “It gives
me great pleasure to have the opportunity to publicly recognize their
contributions.”
There
are 285 awards this year and 233 will be presented at the banquet.
Fifty-six individuals will receive the highest award level,
the Award of Excellence. Seventy-eight
honorees will receive the Award of Merit and 100 will receive the
Award of Recognition. The
State Board will also honor 44 people with the Certificate of Appreciation,
which will be mailed to the recipients’ schools and presented locally.
Individuals
may be nominated for Those Who Excel awards by anyone familiar with
their contributions to education.
The nomination includes a brief biography of the nominee, his
or her philosophy of education, professional development and community
involvement and the nominee’s opinions of the state’s most pressing
educational needs. Letters
of recommendation are also required.
A
committee of peers chooses the award winners.
The committee represents statewide education organizations
and includes former award winners.
The committee considers the following criteria:
- How
the nominee has demonstrated excellence in his or her duties
- How
the nominee has demonstrated concern for children
- Positive
effects the nominee has had on the school environment
- Leadership
shown by the nominee to inspire others to achieve
- Achievement
by the nominee beyond what would be expected as part of his or
her normal duties.
Teacher
of the Year finalists comprise all teachers given the Award of Excellence.
Finalists sit for a videotaped interview as part of the selection
process. The Teacher
of the Year will serve as the state’s ambassador for teaching and
will represent Illinois in the National Teacher of the Year programs
sponsored by Scholastic, Inc. and the Council of Chief State School
Officers.
Jo
Crow, a science teacher at Metamora Grade School in Metamora, is the
current Teacher of the Year.
This
year’s Those Who Excel winners follow, listed by county:
ADAMS
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Ginny
Gully
|
Community
Volunteer
|
Quincy
Notre Dame High School
|
Quincy
|
Merit
|
|
Patricia
B. Lask
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Quincy
Notre Dame High School
|
Quincy
|
Appreciation
|
|
Richard
Royalty
|
School
Administrator
|
Camp
Point Central Community Unit School District #3
|
Camp
Point
|
Recognition
|
|
Ruth
Royalty
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Camp
Point Central Community Unit School District #3
|
Camp
Point
|
Merit
|
BOONE
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Jon
D. Huffman
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Belvidere
Community Unit School District #100
|
Belvidere
|
Recognition
|
|
Darla
Kieser
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Belvidere
Community Unit School District #100
|
Belvidere
|
Merit
|
|
Sharon
K. Osterberg
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Belvidere
Community Unit School District #100
|
Belvidere
|
Merit
|
|
Ted
Stenerson
|
Board
Member
|
Belvidere
Community Unit School District #100
|
Belvidere
|
Recognition
|
BROWN
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Brown
County Schools Support and Study Team
|
Team
|
Brown
County Community Unit School District #1
|
Mt.
Sterling
|
Merit
|
CARROLL
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Shevawn
R. Yochem
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Chadwick-Milledgeville
School District
|
Milledgeville
|
Merit
|
CHAMPAIGN
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Gene
Amberg
|
School
Administrator
|
Urbana
School District #116
|
Urbana
|
Excellence
|
|
Ruth
Ann Buckles
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Champaign
Community Unit School District #4
|
Champaign
|
Merit
|
|
Champaign
Literacy Coaches
|
Team
|
Champaign
Community Unit School District #4
|
Champaign
|
Merit
|
|
Joel
S. Crames
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Champaign
Community Unit School District #4
|
Champaign
|
Recognition
|
|
Gail
Groff
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Champaign
Community Unit School District #4
|
Champaign
|
Merit
|
|
Alexis
Jones
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Urbana
School District #116
|
Urbana
|
Appreciation
|
|
Molly
Jones
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Urbana
School District #116
|
Urbana
|
Excellence
|
CHAMPAIGN
(con’t.)
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Karen
Kaplan
|
Community
Volunteer
|
Champaign
Community Unit School District #4
|
Champaign
|
Merit
|
|
Terry
A. Napper
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Urbana
School District #116
|
Urbana
|
Recognition
|
|
Carol
A. Stack
|
School
Administrator
|
Champaign
Community Unit School District #4
|
Champaign
|
Excellence
|
|
Teach,
Assess and Grow Team
|
Team
|
Urbana
School District #116
|
Urbana
|
Appreciation
|
CHRISTIAN
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Anita
A. Grundy
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Taylorville
Community School District #3
|
Taylorville
|
Merit
|
COOK
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Nancy
A. Adduci
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Rich
Township School District #227
|
Olympia
Fields
|
Merit
|
|
Beverly
L. Baer
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Township
High School District #211
|
Palatine
|
Merit
|
|
Bert
H. Fulton School
|
Learning
Organization
|
Community
Consolidated School District #146
|
Tinley
Park
|
Recognition
|
|
Paul
P. Brown
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Leyden
High School District #212
|
Franklin
Park
|
Recognition
|
|
Theresa
L. Busch
|
School
Administrator
|
Township
High School District #211
|
Palatine
|
Excellence
|
|
Helen
Byers
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Schaumburg
Township School District #54
|
Schaumburg
|
Recognition
|
|
James
Callister
|
Community
Volunteer
|
Leyden
High School District #212
|
Franklin
Park
|
Recognition
|
|
Antonio
R. Castro
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Blue
Island Public School District #130
|
Blue
Island
|
Appreciation
|
|
Joan
E. Chiero
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Rhodes
School District #84.5
|
River
Grove
|
Recognition
|
|
Betty
Cittadine
|
School
Administrator
|
Chicago
Public Schools #299
|
Chicago
|
Recognition
|
|
Laura
Cooper
|
School
Administrator
|
Evanston
Township High School District #202
|
Evanston
|
Excellence
|
|
Carol
M. Dudzik
|
School
Administrator
|
Oak
Park Elementary School District #97
|
Oak
Park
|
Excellence
|
|
ETHS
Boosters Club
|
Team
|
Evanston
Township High School District #202
|
Evanston
|
Appreciation
|
|
Barbara
Figlewicz
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Palatine
Community Consolidated School District #15
|
Palatine
|
Merit
|
COOK (con’t.)
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
David
C. Franson
|
School
Administrator
|
Leyden
High School District #212
|
Franklin
Park
|
Recognition
|
|
Frances
A. Fuerst
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Chicago
Ridge Public Schools #127.5
|
Chicago
Ridge
|
Excellence
|
|
Barbara
A. Galvin
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Chicago
Public Schools #299
|
Chicago
|
Appreciation
|
|
Margaret
M. Gannon
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Community
Consolidated School District #146
|
Tinley
Park
|
Appreciation
|
|
Robert
D. Grimm
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Township
High School District #211
|
Palatine
|
Excellence
|
|
Ginger
Haas
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Township
High School District #211
|
Palatine
|
Merit
|
|
Ann
Herbach
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Skokie
School District #73.5
|
Skokie
|
Recognition
|
|
Anthony
Hogan
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Orland
School District #135
|
Orland
Park
|
Appreciation
|
|
Hoover
West Elementary School 2002-03
|
Learning
Organization
|
Hoover
Schrum Memorial School District #157
|
Calumet
City
|
Appreciation
|
|
Karan
G. Hurckes
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
South
Holland School District #150
|
South
Holland
|
Recognition
|
|
Cameron
S. Jackson
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Leyden
High School District #212
|
Franklin
Park
|
Recognition
|
|
William
T. Jastrow
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Homewood-Flossmoor
High School District #233
|
Flossmoor
|
Recognition
|
|
Laurel
W. Kasang
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Forest
Ridge School District #142
|
Oak
Forest
|
Appreciation
|
|
Margo
Kavanaugh
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Skokie
School District #73.5
|
Skokie
|
Merit
|
|
Elizabeth
Klein
|
Board
Member
|
Skokie
School District #69
|
Skokie
|
Excellence
|
|
Anna
Klimkowicz
|
Board
Member
|
Township
High School District #211
|
Palatine
|
Recognition
|
|
Keith
A. Kuykendall
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Bremen
Community High School District #228
|
Midlothian
|
Excellence
|
|
Barbara
J. Mackey
|
School
Administrator
|
Blue
Island Public School District #130
|
Blue
Island
|
Recognition
|
|
Patricia
A. Marquardt
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
St.
Emily School
|
Mt.
Prospect
|
Appreciation
|
|
Norma
May
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Evanston
Township High School District #202
|
Evanston
|
Recognition
|
|
Kevin
C. McOlgan
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Riverside
Brookfield High School District #208
|
Riverside
|
Appreciation
|
|
Peter
E. Menza
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Leyden
High School District #212
|
Franklin
Park
|
Recognition
|
|
Sander
W. Moy
|
Community
Volunteer
|
Oak
Park Elementary School District #97
|
Oak
Park
|
Excellence
|
|
Paula
E. Nicolau
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Resurrection
High School
|
Chicago
|
Appreciation
|
|
Sandra
L. Noel
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Oak
Park Elementary School District #97
|
Oak
Park
|
Merit
|
|
John
A. Phillips, Jr.
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Evanston
Township High School District #202
|
Evanston
|
Recognition
|
|
Patricia
N. Pike
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Chicago
Public Schools #299
|
Chicago
|
Appreciation
|
|
Dennis
Quinn
|
Community
Volunteer
|
Schaumburg
Township School District #54
|
Schaumburg
|
Merit
|
|
Resurrection
High School Mentoring Team
|
Team
|
Resurrection
High School
|
Chicago
|
Appreciation
|
|
Rich
East High School Learning Organization
|
Learning
Organization
|
Rich
Township School District #227
|
Olympia
Fields
|
Recognition
|
|
Charles
A. Riemma
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Community
High School District #218
|
Oaklawn
|
Merit
|
|
Violet
S. Roberson
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Chicago
Public Schools #299
|
Chicago
|
Appreciation
|
COOK (con’t.)
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Carolyn
P. Roy
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Kirby
School District #140
|
Tinley
Park
|
Merit
|
|
Secondary
Work Experience Program Team
|
Team
|
Township
High School District #211
|
Palatine
|
Excellence
|
|
Linda
Selway
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Evanston
Township High School District #202
|
Evanston
|
Merit
|
|
Nancy
Smith
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Westchester
Public Schools, District #92 1/2
|
Westchester
|
Recognition
|
|
Michael
D. Sprague
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Rhodes
School District #84.5
|
River
Grove
|
Appreciation
|
|
St.
Emily Women's Club
|
Team
|
St.
Emily Elementary School
|
Mt.
Prospect
|
Excellence
|
|
Kathleen
Stark
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
South
Holland School District #150
|
South
Holland
|
Recognition
|
|
Millie
A. Sullivan
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Oak
Park Elementary School District #97
|
Oak
Park
|
Appreciation
|
|
Eva
M. Tillmann
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Skokie
School District #73.5
|
Skokie
|
Excellence
|
|
Catherine
(Kate) Todd
|
Community
Volunteer
|
Evanston
Township High School District #202
|
Evanston
|
Recognition
|
|
Linda
J. Vass
|
School
Administrator
|
Palestine
Community Consolidated School District #15
|
Palatine
|
Excellence
|
|
Jeffry
J. Weber
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Oak
Park Elementary School District #97
|
Oak
Park
|
Excellence
|
DEWITT
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Nancy
M. Schottel
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Clinton
Community Unit District #15
|
Clinton
|
Recognition
|
DUPAGE
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Barbara
P. Baker
|
Community
Volunteer
|
DuPage
High School District #88
|
Villa
Park
|
Recognition
|
|
Marie
T. Bartolotta
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Naperville
Community Unit School District #203
|
Naperville
|
Recognition
|
|
Nancy
Bartosz-Thompson
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Community
Unit School District #201
|
Westmont
|
Appreciation
|
|
Deborah
M. Bruns
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Community
High School District #99
|
Downers
Grove
|
Appreciation
|
|
Elaine
Buch
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
DuPage
High School District #88
|
Villa
Park
|
Recognition
|
|
Character
Counts! Coalition
|
Team
|
Lombard
Elementary School District #44
|
Lombard
|
Merit
|
|
Kathleen
M. Dineen-Hendricks
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Community
Consolidated School District #180
|
Burr
Ridge
|
Excellence
|
|
Elizabeth
E. DiSapia
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
DuPage
High School District #88
|
Villa
Park
|
Recognition
|
|
Maureen
T. Dvorak
|
Community
Volunteer
|
Naperville
Community Unit School District #203
|
Naperville
|
Excellence
|
|
Daniel
Ferri
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Lombard
Elementary School District #44
|
Lombard
|
Merit
|
|
Jolie
A. K. Fredette
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Community
High School District #99
|
Downers
Grove
|
Recognition
|
|
Freshman
Studies Team, Addison Trail High School
|
Team
|
DuPage
High School District #88
|
Villa
Park
|
Merit
|
|
Beverly
Frett
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Indian
Prairie Community Unit School District #204
|
Naperville
|
Merit
|
|
Georgia
Glyman-Roumbos
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Glen
Ellyn School District #41
|
Glen
Ellyn
|
Appreciation
|
|
Virginia
G. Highstone
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Elmhurst
Community School District #205
|
Elmhurst
|
Excellence
|
DUPAGE
(con’t.)
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Brad
A. Hillman
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Naperville
Community Unit School District #203
|
Naperville
|
Merit
|
|
Jim
Jannisch
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Naperville
Community Unit School District #203
|
Naperville
|
Merit
|
|
Darlene
Lavenhagen
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Community
Consolidated School District #180
|
Burr
Ridge
|
Merit
|
|
Edward
J. Leman
|
School
Administrator
|
West
Chicago Elementary School District #33
|
West
Chicago
|
Recognition
|
|
Karen
Mack
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
DuPage
High School District #88
|
Villa
Park
|
Merit
|
|
Sally
Magnuson
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Lombard
Elementary School District #44
|
Lombard
|
Merit
|
|
Diana
Majerczyk
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Lombard
Elementary School District #44
|
Lombard
|
Recognition
|
|
Josie
V. Martinez
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
West
Chicago Elementary School District #33
|
West
Chicago
|
Recognition
|
|
Nondi
Orazi
|
Community
Volunteer
|
Lombard
Elementary School District #44
|
Lombard
|
Merit
|
|
Gloria
A. Pavese
|
Community
Volunteer
|
Community
Consolidated School District #180
|
Burr
Ridge
|
Recognition
|
|
Sally
L. Pentecost
|
School
Administrator
|
Naperville
Community Unit School District #203
|
Naperville
|
Merit
|
|
Nancy
M. Petrik
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
West
Chicago Elementary School District #33
|
West
Chicago
|
Recognition
|
|
Prairie
Elementary School Custodial Support Team
|
Team
|
Naperville
Community Unit School District #203
|
Naperville
|
Recognition
|
|
Gretchen
Sauer
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Community
High School District #99
|
Downers
Grove
|
Recognition
|
|
Cathe
A. Smith
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Community
Consolidated School District #180
|
Burr
Ridge
|
Recognition
|
|
Lynn
Y. Sullivan
|
Community
Volunteer
|
Community
High School District #99
|
Downers
Grove
|
Merit
|
|
Julie
A. Sweet
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Hinsdale
High School District #86
|
Hinsdale
|
Recognition
|
|
Carol
A. Turner
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
West
Chicago Elementary School District #33
|
West
Chicago
|
Merit
|
|
Laura
Walker
|
Board
Member
|
Community
Consolidated School District #181
|
Hinsdale
|
Recognition
|
EDWARDS
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Virginia
Coale
|
Educational
Service Personnel
|
Edwards
County Community Unit #1
|
Albion
|
Excellence
|
EFFINGHAM
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Nancy
L. Esker
|
Student
Support Personnel
|
Effingham
Community Unit School District #40
|
Effingham
|
Merit
|
|
Craig
A. Lindvahl
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Teutopolis
School District #50
|
Teutopolis
|
Excellence
|
FULTON
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Kyp
H. McLaren
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Canton
Union School District #66
|
Canton
|
Excellence
|
HENDERSON
Name
|
Category
|
School
|
City
|
Award
of
|
|
Pat
Olson-McGee
|
Classroom
Teacher
|
Union
School District #115
|
Biggsville
|
Excellence
|