Those Who Excel

The Illinois State Board of Education annually sponsors Those Who Excel to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to our state's public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools.

Awards of Excellence, Meritorious Service, and Special Recognition are presented in six categories - school administrator, school board members/community volunteer, educational service personnel, student support personnel, team, and classroom teacher. Nomination materials are evaluated by a selection committee comprised of individuals who represent a variety of educational organizations.

Awards of Excellence winners in the teacher category are finalists for the Illinois Teacher of the Year. He or she will represent Illinois at NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, and in the National Teacher of the Year competition sponsored by ING, and the Council of Chief State School Officers. In addition, the Illinois Teacher of the Year receives a lifetime tuition waiver at any state university.

Anyone can nominate an individual for any category of Those Who Excel; however only one nomination per category per school district will be accepted. Forms are available online at www.isbe.net under Those Who Excel.

Year	Recipient	Category	Award of
2012-2013	Algebra Enriched Team	Team	Merit
	Sarah Bowen	Student Support Personnel	Excellence
	Andrew Conneen	Classroom Teacher	Excellence
	Monika Kiefer	Educational Support Personnel	Merit
	Ellyn Ross	Community Volunteer	Merit
	Lisa Thoss	Early Career Educator	Recognition
2011-2012	Patrick Block	Early Career Educator	Merit
	Don Carmichael	Classsroom Teacher	Recognition
	David Klitzky	Community Volunteer	Recognition
	Perrie Kominsky	Student Support Personnel	Recognition
	Special Ed. Community Board	Team	Excellence
2010-2011	Aaron Elster	Community Volunteer	Merit
	Lynda Gunther	Student Support Personnel	Merit
	Nancy K. Kroon	Educational Service Personnel	Excellence
	Anthony Reibel	Early Career Educator	Recognition
	Student Activities Team	Team	Merit
2009-2010	Sara E. Cahill	Early Career Educator	Recognition
	June Daar	Community Volunteer	Excellence
	Stephanie D. Elsass	Student Support Personnel	Recognition
	Kathryn J. Hoopes	Classroom Teacher	Recognition
	Patricia C. Ihmels	School Administrator	Recognition
	SHS Music Team	Team	Merit
2008-2009	Deanna L. Dreyer	Educational Service Personnel	Merit
	Jianhong (Janet) Hong	Early Career Educator	Merit
	Thomas Loew	Classroom Teacher	Recognition
	Lori A. Lyman	Community Volunteer	Recognition
	Gregory Sherwin	School Administrator	Merit
	Chris Kelly	Classroom Teacher	Excellence
	John Martin	Administrator	Excellence
	SHS Health Education     Team	Team	Merit
2007-2008	Alfredo Acosta	Educational Service Personnel	Excellence
	AP Calculus Team	Team	Merit
	Laura Brandt	Classroom Teacher	Excellence
	Nancy Nichols	Community Volunteer	Recognition
	Ileene Paul	Administrator	Recognition
	Jill Smiley	Early Career Educator	Recognition
	Terese Sullivan	Student Support Personnel	Excellence
2005-2006	Jim Conrey	Educational Service Personnel	Merit
	Deans	Team	Recognition
	Janet Gonzalez	Administrator	Merit
2004-2005	Jim Conrey	Educational Service Personnel	Merit
	Health Education Team	Team	Merit
	Chris Kelly	Classroom Teacher	Excellence
	John Martin	Administrator	Excellence
	Sherry Smith	Student Support Personnel	Merit
2003-2004	Richard M. Berger	Community Volunteer	Merit
	Pat Caldwell	Educational Service Personnel	Recognition
	Nancy Eberhardt	Student Support Personnel	Recognition
	Board of Education	Team	Excellence
	Chris Franken	Administrator	Merit
	Tom Loch	Classroom Teacher	Appreciation
2001-2002	Sue Biemeret	Student Support Personnel	Excellence
	Debbie Durham	Classroom Teacher	Recognition
	Corey Friedl	Educational Service Personnel	Recognition
	Beth Giglio	Administrator	Excellence
2000-2001	Charlene Chausis	Educational Service Personnel	Recognition
	Gayle Karhanek	Administrator	Recognition
	Tom Koenigsberger	Classroom Teacher	Recognition
	Patti Schuma	Community Volunteer	Recognition
1998-1999	Mary Christel	Classroom Teacher	Merit
	Stevenson High School	Learning Organization	Excellence
1999-2000	Caryl Jo Dagro	Classroom Teacher	Excellence
1997-1998	Jim Hintz	Administrator	Merit
	Diane Holder	Board Member	Merit
	Robert Lyons	Classroom Teacher	Honorable Mention
	Astrid M.Perez	Educational Service Personnel	Recognition
	DeeDee Small	Student Support Personnel	Recognition
	Pam Zimmermann	Administrator	Excellence
1996-1997	Richard P. DuFour	Administrator	Excellence
	Lydia Jesse	Community Volunteer	Excellence
	Dick Johannsen	Classroom Teacher	Honorable Mention
	Sandi Millman	Student Support Personnel	Recognition
	Barbara Schatzman	Board Member	Recognition
	Todd Slotten	Educational Service Personnel	Recognition
1995-1996	Timothy Berkey	Administrator	Excellence
	Luella Brosio	Educational Service Personnel	Honorable Mention
	Peg Cucci	Community Volunteer	Honorable Mention
	Cathy Gallenberger	Student Support Personnel	Recognition
	Mary K. Layco	Classroom Teacher	Merit
	Sam Ritchie	Administrator	Excellence
1993-1994	Joel Johnson	Teacher of the Year	Teacher of the Year