Four District 207 teachers were honored as part of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Teacher of the Year program this year. In addition, eight individuals (administrators, staff and volunteers) and two teams from District 207 earned Those Who Excel honors from ISBE.
It was announced earlier that Maine East Director of Choirs Kate Lee was selected as the ISBE 2021 Outstanding Early Career Educator. In addition, Maine East teacher Theresa Bonifazi, Maine West teacher Theresa Hardin and Maine South teacher Sarah Kendeigh all earned meritorious service honors in the Teacher of the Year award program that honors teachers in two categories: teacher with five years of teaching experience and teachers with less than five years experience. The program aims to recognize the best of the teaching profession in Illinois. Outside of state-wide and regional Teacher of Year honorees, nominees can earn either meritorious service or special recognition.
In the Those Who Excel program, which honors staff members for significant contributions to schools, District 207 had the most Those Who Excel individual/team honorees in the entire state with a total of ten individuals/teams. There are two categories of recognition for this program, including awards of excellence and awards of meritorious service.
Maine South Science Department Chair Daun Biewenga was honored with an award of excellence in the administrator category. She was one of just five administrators in the state to receive the award of excellence designation.
The other honorees from District 207 were all honored with an award of meritorious service.
- The District 207 Adult Learning Team which includes Maine West Instructional Coach Carrie Barone, Maine East Instructional Coach Jenny Berko, Maine South Instructional Coach Mike Biondo, Maine South Instructional Coach Tina Butera, Maine West Instructional Coach Kathy Ciss, Maine South Instructional Coach Keith Culbertson, Maine East Instructional Coach Eric Coval, Maine East Instructional Coach Sarah Djordjevic, Maine South Associate Principal for Teaching and Learning Melissa Dudic, Maine West Instructional Coach Aaron Fleming, Director of Innovative Adult Learning Jill Geocaris, Maine East Associate Principal for Teaching and Learning Allison Gest, Maine South Instructional Coach Laura Kirshner, Maine West Associate Principal for Teaching and Learning Jen Loika, Maine West Instructional Coach Donna Michaels, Maine East Instructional Coach Greg Reuhs, Maine West Instructional Coach Kristi Ryken, Maine South Instructional Coach Donna Schwan and Maine East Instructional Coach Judy Tyler. (team category)
- The District 207 Career Services Team which includes District Career Coordinator Laura Cook, Maine West Career Coordinator Kayla Hansen, Maine West Career & College Admissions Specialist Amelia Manning, Maine East Career Coordinator Kylie Mussay, Career & College Admissions Specialist Mark Weber, Maine South Career Coordinator Laura Wilkens, Maine South Career & College Admissions Specialist Robyn Moreth, Maine West Associate Principal for Student & Family Services Claudia Rueda-Alvarez, Maine South Associate Principal for Student & Family Services Melissa Pikul, and Maine East Associate Principal for Student & Family Services Michael Wartick. (team category)
- Maine South support staff member Paul Dietrich (educational service personnel category)
- Maine West Athletic Director Jarett Kirshner (administrator category)
- District 207 Board Member Carla Owen (community volunteer category)
- Maine West School Psychologist Lynn Perri (student support personnel category)
- Retired Maine East Administrative Assistant Lori Schippers (educational service personnel category)
- Volunteer Scott Williams (community volunteer category)
- Maine East Counselor Mieka Yochim (student support personnel category)
The program has been in place since 1970 and each year those selected are honored at the Teacher of the Year/Those Who Excel banquet. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions in place limiting large gatherings, this year’s in-person event has been canceled. Alternative plans to honor the outstanding educators from across the state will be announced later this year by ISBE.