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For Immediate Release
Wednesday, October 17, 2018

State Board honors 214 outstanding educators with Those Who Excel awards

​State Board to name 2019 Illinois Teacher of the Year at 44th annual banquet for top educators Oct. 20

NORMAL – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced today 214 statewide recipients of 2018-19 Those Who Excel awards. Those Who Excel celebrates outstanding classroom teachers, educational leaders, and support personnel and their invaluable contributions to schools and communities. Find the Those Who Excel honorees in your community. 

State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith, Ph.D., will recognize Illinois’ top educators at the 44th annual Those Who Excel/Teacher of the Year Banquet on Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Normal. Honorees will include the 10 Teacher of the Year finalists, one of whom ISBE will name the 2019 Teacher of the Year. Learn more about the finalists by visiting the "Those Who Excel" webpage​. 

“The Those Who Excel banquet is one of the most extraordinary events of the year,” said Smith. “I deeply value the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the abundantly talented adults in our schools. Their daily efforts to maximize outcomes for students are the backbone of our state’s social and economic wellbeing. I am especially looking forward to welcoming Illinois’ next incredible Teacher of the Year.”

Lindsey Jensen, who teaches English, Advanced Placement English, American Literature, Composition, Drama, and Shakespeare at Dwight High School in Dwight Public Schools District 230, served as Illinois’ 2018 Teacher of the Year.

“I believe there is nothing wrong in education that cannot be fixed by what is right in education,” said Jensen. “The individuals recognized at the Those Who Excel banquet are a testament to all that is right in education, and I’m so proud to call them my colleagues.”

Local school district leaders and members of school communities nominate candidates for Those Who Excel recognition. A committee of peers, organized by ISBE, chooses the award winners. The committee includes representatives from statewide education organizations, as well as former award winners. Honorees receive recognition on three levels – Recognition, Merit, and Excellence – and across multiple categories. 

The 2019 Teacher of the Year will serve as Illinois’ ambassador for the teaching profession during the 2018-19 school year and will represent Illinois in the National Teacher of the Year program. 

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