Prairie State Wire

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has announced 13 finalists for the Teacher of the Year award and recognized over 500 individuals for their contributions to education in Illinois. The announcement was part of the annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards, which highlight dedication and innovation in educational roles across the state.

"Illinois educators are changing lives every single day, and today we celebrate the very best among them," stated Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent of Education. He praised the awardees for their excellence in teaching and leadership, emphasizing their role in supporting and inspiring students.

The awards recognize achievements across seven categories: classroom teachers, early career educators, school administrators, student support personnel, educational service personnel, community volunteers, and teams.

Dr. Rachael Mahmood, who was named Illinois Teacher of the Year in 2024, has spent her ambassadorship year fostering discussions about inclusivity in schools through World Café events. These gatherings have brought together various stakeholders to share insights and develop strategies for inclusive education communities.

"Serving as a representative for Illinois educators has been an extraordinary honor," said Mahmood. She expressed admiration for the actions taken by educators to support students and emphasized that schools thrive when all voices are heard.

The Teacher of the Year Cohort includes regional teachers from various parts of Illinois as well as specialists such as Bilingual, Special Education, and Early Childhood Teachers of the Year. Finalists must have at least five years of teaching experience to qualify for this prestigious recognition.

Earlier this month, Dr. Sanders and Board Chair Dr. Steven Isoye informed members of this year's cohort about their selection via surprise video calls.

Finalists include Comfort Agboola from Poe Elementary Classical School; Víctor Gómez from East Leyden High School; Joshua Lerner from Peirce Elementary International Studies School; Tracy Selock from Lincoln Cultural Center-Montessori Elementary; Heidie Dunn from McHenry Community High School; Michele Oberlin from Madison Early Childhood Education Center; Jennifer Gruca from John F. Kennedy Middle School; Leslie Rennick from Stark County Elementary School; Nina McLean from James Avant Elementary School; Katie Welch from Rolling Acres Middle School; Jessica Suarez Nieto from Telpochcalli Elementary School; Amber Sims from Alton Consolidated Unit School District 11; Jennifer Gross from Thornton Fractional South High School; and Jena Kleindl recognized as Outstanding Early Career Educator at Freeport High School.

This year saw a record number of nominations for these awards. A committee comprising various educational professionals reviewed applications to select this year's honorees.

The 2025 Illinois Teacher of the Year will be chosen later this spring by Dr. Sanders. All awardees will be celebrated at a banquet scheduled for May 17.

Further information about these awards is available on ISBE's Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year webpage.