The Illinois State Board of Education named Ricky Castro, an English
as a Second Language teacher at Elk Grove High School, the 2017
Illinois Teacher of the Year. One of 10 finalists, Castro was announced
as this year’s top educator during Saturday night’s 42nd annual Those
Who Excel/Illinois Teacher of the Year banquet in Normal.
“Mr. Castro emphasizes biliteracy development for students,
allowing them to become proficient in multiple languages that will
serve them well beyond high school,” said State Superintendent Tony
Smith, Ph.D. “The relationships he builds with students, colleagues,
and families greatly benefit the community, both within the schools and
outside school walls. His passion to give back is inspiring.”
Castro says that during his middle and high school years he was a
student at the crossroads of conflicting identities. He became
involved with gangs and was not a good student while he lived in
Chicago. That prompted his parents to move to the suburbs. Ricky was
fortunate to have teachers who listened and supported him. Those
teachers also inspired him to want to become a teacher and make a
difference in the lives of students who might be struggling.
“In my 15 years as an educator and my six as an administrator, I
can honestly say that I have never met anyone quite like Ricky. He is a
visionary, a change agent, and the answer to the prayers of hundreds
of students and their families, for he sees the incredible potential in
kids and he will stop at nothing to alter the course of their lives,”
said Megan Knight, associate principal for instruction of Elk Grove
High School.
Castro earned a Bachelor of Arts in English at DePaul University
and a Masters of Arts in Education from the University of Illinois at
Chicago. Recognizing that students of poverty often need more than
academic success to achieve success in life, Castro created a tiered
leadership program called Estudiantes Unidos. This innovative program
challenges Elk Grove High School students to mentor their junior high
and elementary school counterparts. The program teaches the value of
citizenship, and encourages students to be leaders. Today the
co-curricular endeavor impacts more than 200 students in the district.
As Illinois Teacher of the Year, Castro will have an opportunity
to share his knowledge and expertise outside the classroom. Beginning
in the 2017 spring semester, he will be available to speak at teaching
workshops, education conferences, and community meetings. Castro will
represent Illinois at the NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., and the
National Teacher of the Year program sponsored by the Council of Chief
State School Officers and Voya Finanacial.
A photograph of Illinois Teacher of the Year Ricky Castro is available for download online at www.isbe.net/those-who-excel/2017/images/castro.jpg.
