For Immediate Release
September 26, 2007
ISBE honors more than 150 outstanding individuals
for their service to education
33rd year agency to honor contributions to education
at Those Who Excel/Teacher of the Year Program
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education
(ISBE) announced today award recipients that will be singled
out for their outstanding service at the 33rd annual Those
Who Excel/Teacher of the Year banquet. One hundred and
sixty-three outstanding teachers, administrators, student
support personnel, educational service personnel and community
members will take center stage Saturday, October 13, when
they are honored by the Illinois State Board of Education.
The highlight of the awards banquet will include the announcement
of Illinois Teacher of the Year for 2007-2008.
“These educators and community members represent
the thousands of people who support our schools everyday,”
said State Superintendent of Education Christopher Koch.
“They are working together to help all of our students
become successful lifelong learners.”
Candidates are nominated by their local schools and people
in their communities. The nomination includes a brief
biography of the nominee, his or her philosophy of education,
professional development and community involvement and
their 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 categories for recognition are:
- Classroom teacher
- School administrator
- Student support personnel
- Educational service personnel
- School board member and/or community volunteer
- Teams—which recognizes groups of teachers and
administrators; citizen committees; civic organizations;
parent organizations; school boards; booster clubs and
others that have a significant impact on teaching and
learning in a school or district.
- Early Career Educator
This year, all levels of awards will be presented at
the banquet. There are:
- 38 recipients of the highest award level, Excellence.
- 55 recipients of the Award of Merit.
- 70 recipients of the Award of Recognition.
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 serves as the state’s ambassador for
teaching and represents Illinois in the National Teacher
of the Year programs sponsored by the Council of Chief
State School Officers, and ING.
Joe Fatheree, a technology teacher at Effingham High
School, District 40, in Effingham is the current Illinois
Teacher of the Year.
This year’s Those Who Excel/Teacher of the Year
banquet will be held at the Decatur Conference Center
& Hotel, 4191 W US Highway 36, Decatur.
A complete list of award recipients can be found online
at http://www.isbe.net/news/2007/twe_07-08.pdf.
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