Message Sent To: AgEd State Staff, All Advisors, ICAE, ILCAE, Principals, Superintendents, University AgEd Faculty, Community College Instructors, College Ag Ed Students, EFE, FFA Alumni
NEWS
For Immediate Release
March 9, 2020
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Jackie Matthews
(217) 782-4648
press@isbe.net
ISBE
is seeking nominations for top teacher awards
ISBE
announces new Bilingual Teacher of the Year, Early Childhood Teacher of the
Year, and Special Education Teacher of the Year awards
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board
of Education (ISBE) is seeking nominations for Illinois’ top teacher awards.
ISBE’s Teacher of the Year and Those Who Excel awards programs honor teachers,
teams, administrators, community volunteers, and support personnel who have made
significant contributions to Illinois’ students. Any person or organization may
submit nominations.
ISBE also announced today three
new awards to honor outstanding teachers in specific areas: the Bilingual
Teacher of the Year award, Early Childhood Teacher of the Year award, and
Special Education Teacher of the Year award. Additionally, for the first time,
ISBE will select Regional Teachers of the Year from eight
regions. The 2021 Illinois Teacher of the Year,
who will be in the running for National Teacher of the Year, will be selected
from these 11 educators.
“Educators inspire, connect,
and transform – not just the children they interact with, but their entire
communities,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “The
Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year awards programs recognize the incredible work happening in and around Illinois schools, as the result of
exemplary educators who far too often go unrecognized outside of their own
schools or districts. We encourage everyone to think about someone at their
school who is making a positive impact on students and nominate them for
an award. This act of appreciation can truly make a difference.”
ISBE is aiming for a record
number of nominations this year with a new streamlined online nomination
portal. ISBE will announce the winners at a
red-carpet banquet in the fall. Spread the word about the awards by sharing
this video on social media with the hashtag #ElevatingEducators: vimeo.com/375524493.
“Through this opportunity, I am
able to share my passion for teaching with current and future educators around
the state,” said Eric Combs, the band director at Richland County Middle School
who is the 2020 Teacher of the Year. “I believe education exists to
enrich our lives and am grateful ISBE has programs in place to elevate our
amazing educators. I encourage everyone to nominate an educator in their
own community.”
ISBE is seeking
nominations for:
- 2021 Illinois Teacher of the Year (public and nonpublic school teachers with five or more years
of experience)
- Regional Teachers of the Year
- Bilingual Teacher of the
Year
- Early Childhood Teacher
of the Year
- Special Education Teacher
of the Year
- Outstanding Early Career Educator
(teachers with one-four years of experience)
- Those Who Excel
Administrator Award
- Those Who Excel Team Award
- Those Who Excel Community
Volunteer Award
- Those Who Excel Student
Support Personnel Award (school nurse, psychologist, social worker, school
counselor, or speech/language therapist)
- Those Who Excel
Educational Service Personnel Award (aides/paraprofessionals, cafeteria
workers, custodians, administrative assistants, bus drivers, resource
officers)
Nominations open March 9 and close
June 5. Learn more about the Teacher of the Year and
Those Who Excel program requirements and submit a nomination at www.isbe.net/elevatingeducators.
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Erica Thieman
Illinois State Board of Education
Phone: 217-785-4293 Cell: --
Email: EThieman@isbe.net
Address: 100 North First Street, Springfield, IL 62777