Twenty-four educators from Metro East 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 Metro East educators all received Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards. They are:
– Janice Amann, Mascoutah Elementary School
– Emily Auffenberg, Joseph Arthur Middle School
– Candace Caveny, O'Fallon Township High School
– Ginger Cramsey, Lewis & Clark Elementary School
– Julie Daab, New Athens Junior High School
– Zandra Davis-Joshua, Gordon Bush Elementary School
– Stephanie Ferguson, Signal Hill School
– Jean Hasenstab, Whiteside Middle School
– Sarah Jones, East Alton wood River High School
– Wendy Kassing, Shiloh Middle School
– Angie Kuchnicki, Lovejoy Elementary School
– Lydia Latham, Marissa Junior and Senior High School
– Lyndsey Mehrtens, William Holliday Elementary School
– Carrie Metze, Triad high School
– Cindy Meyer, Millstadt Consolidated School
– Keith Padgett, Belleville East High School
– Spencer Saal, Madison Senior High School
– Shelly Schaefer, Roosevelt School
– Lauren Seka-Steward, Emge Junior High School
– James Stark, Collinsville High School
– Linda Tessereau, Wolf Branch Middle School
– Cathy Vano, Albert Cassens Elementary School
– Jana Vasquez, Edward A. Fulton Junior High School
– Corynn Wheelan, High Mount School
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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