Four educators from McLean and Livingston counties were among scores of honorees from throughout Illinois recognized as tops in their fields – from health to dance to foreign language – during an annual awards luncheon held Tuesday in Normal.
The local educators who received awards were:
– Lisa Bounds from Prairie Central Junior High School, Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year
– Mike Jones from Bloomington Junior High School, Illinois STEM Educator of the Year
– Karen Monhardt from Bloomington High School, Mary Hoffman Award
– Betsy Westergreen from Flanagan-Cornell High School, Secondary Teacher of the Year
The eighth annual Exemplary Teacher Recognition Award Luncheon was co-hosted by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education Association (IEA).
“Educators help students imagine and aspire to futures they would not otherwise think possible,” Illinois Superintendent of Education Tony Smith said in a prepared statement. “... Educators see the possibilities in young people before they can even see them in themselves. I express deep thankfulness for the educators across the state who make a strong social, economic and civic future possible for all communities.”
The 59 honorees were nominated by professional organizations that ranked the educators as outstanding in their disciplines.
“The award winners have shown exemplary teaching in each of their fields, and they remind us that great education is being delivered to our students every day in every school in Illinois,” IEA President Kathi Griffin said.
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