The Journey is the Destination....

This past fall has been such an exciting time for me! Such a whirlwind of wonderful things!
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In the spring I had been nominated for the teacher recognition program, Those Who Excel, in the state of Illinois to represent my school.

​I was required to write several essays and submit a file with recommendations and other information. I mailed my paperwork and waited with baited breath...

When school rolled around again, I was getting my classroom set up when my principal, my superintendent, and the curriculum director wanted to meet with me. I was terrified...what was going on? They sat me down and told me that not only had I been awarded an award of excellence for my teaching, but I had also achieved Top Ten in the state of Illinois and was up for the Teacher of the Year! I was floored!

​A bouquet of roses from my team and a certificate of recognition from the district.
​~August 2015

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​The first step was a filmed interview in Springfield. This was totally out of my realm; I was used to teaching third graders, not traveling to the state capital to meet policy makers. My interview went well (boy I was relieved that it was over, though!) I was fortunate to be able to met a lot of great people downstate, especially Lynn Gaddis, president of the Illinois State Teachers of the Year organization, ILSTOY.

​At the state capitol building after my interview at the State Board of Education.

​~September 2015

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The Teacher of the Award would be announced at the Those Who Excel banquet in October in Bloomington/Normal. One of the things that the committee had warned me about was that after my interview the press would start to call. I thought, why would they want to talk to me? The idea left my head, and I focused on my students at the beginning of the year, until the press did start to call. I had interviews that were published in the Daily Herald, The Mokena Messenger, The Frankfort Station, the Southtown Economist, and even the Chicago Tribune. 

​           The Chicago Tribune Article
​                                   ~October 2015

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​           The article in the Southtown Economist
                                                        ~October 2015

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October 2015

​The awards banquet was quickly approaching...I realized that I was happy no matter what the outcome was. I was proud to represent my school and my students. This was so wonderful!

My parents surprised me by coming in from Arizona to celebrate with me at the banquet. My sister and her husband drove down too. My principal came to support me as well!

​I was so blessed and humbled by all of this!

Here we are...the class of 2016... the Top Ten teachers in the state of Illinois

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It was a truly uplifting experience to be able to meet these wonderful educators! All of them were superb people! The award went to Kim Thomas, a fantastic teacher. We were so excited for her win!