BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL — The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) recognized the 2025 Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort at a celebratory reception in Bloomington-Normal on March 8.
Speakers commended the educators for their profound impact in schools and communities across Illinois and encouraged them to leverage the Teacher of the Year Cohort platform to elevate their voices and open doors to new opportunities for advocacy and leadership. The program included remarks from Dr. Tony Sanders, state superintendent of Education; Dr. Steven Isoye, ISBE Board chair and 1998 Illinois Teacher of the Year; Dr. Lindsey Jensen, 2018 Illinois Teacher of the Year and Educators Rising Illinois state coordinator; Bill Polasky, 2019 Teacher of the Year finalist and president of the Illinois State Teachers of the Year organization; and Dr. Rachael Mahmood, 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year.
Dr. Sanders and Dr. Isoye notified members of this year's cohort of their selection via surprise video calls last month. Watch highlights from the surprise video calls.
See photos from the 2025 Illinois Teachers of the Year reception.
“These extraordinary educators represent the very best of Illinois’ teaching profession,” said Dr. Sanders. “They are the heartbeat of our education system. They have gone above and beyond to ensure that every student who walks through their doors is encouraged and supported to achieve their best. The cohort reception is a celebration of their incredible talent and dedication to making our communities stronger through education. Congratulations to the 2025 Teachers of the Year!”
“The educators in the 2025 Teacher of the Year cohort are celebrated not only in their commitment to students but in their passion for transforming education,” said Dr. Isoye. “Being named a Teacher of the Year is more than an honor -- it is an opportunity for an educator to amplify their voice, share their own unique message, and advocate for the ideas that will shape the future of education. I cannot wait to see the impact that each of our Teachers of the Year will continue to make.”
“Meeting this year's finalists for Illinois Teacher of the Year was truly inspiring,” said Dr. Mahmood. “Their dedication and passion for education are evident, and we wholeheartedly celebrate their remarkable achievements in reaching this stage. I am genuinely excited to witness their individual journeys and the collective impact they will undoubtedly have throughout the year.”
The annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards celebrate incredible classroom teachers, administrators, teams, volunteers, and school support personnel who have made lasting impacts on students, families, and fellow educators in their school communities. ISBE will host its annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Banquet May 17.
Meet the 2025 Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort
Bios and photos can be found at ISBE’s Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Program webpage. This year’s honorees include:
- Cook County Co-Regional Teacher of the Year – Comfort Agboola, English Language Arts, Poe Elementary Classical School, City of Chicago School District 299
- Cook County Co-Regional Teacher of the Year – Víctor Gómez, Science, East Leyden High School and West Leyden High School, Leyden Community High School District 212
- Cook County Co-Regional Teacher of the Year – Joshua Lerner, English as a Second Language, Peirce Elementary International Studies School, City of Chicago School District 299
- East Central Regional Teacher of the Year – Tracy Selock, Mathematics, Lincoln Cultural Center-Montessori Elementary, Kankakee School District 111
- Far North Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year – Heidie B.W. Dunn, English/Theater/AVID, McHenry Community High School, McHenry Community High School District 156
- Far West Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year – Michele Oberlin, Prekindergarten/Early Childhood, Madison Early Childhood Education Center, Elmhurst School District 205
- Far South Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year – Jennifer Gruca, English Language Arts, John F. Kennedy Middle School, Plainfield School District 202
- Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year – Leslie Rennick, Elementary, Stark County Elementary School, Stark County Consolidated Unit School District 100
- Southern Regional Teacher of the Year – Nina McLean, Elementary, James Avant Elementary School, East St. Louis School District 189
- West Central Regional Teacher of the Year – Katie Welch, Mathematics, Rolling Acres Middle School, Peoria School District 150
- Bilingual Teacher of the Year – Jessica Suarez Nieto, Elementary/Bilingual, Telpochcalli Elementary School, City of Chicago School District 299
- Early Childhood Teacher of the Year – Amber Sims, Prekindergarten/Early Childhood, Alton School District Early Childhood Center, Alton Consolidated Unit School District 11
- Special Education Teacher of the Year – Jennifer Gross, Special Education, Thornton Fractional South High School, Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215
- Outstanding Early Career Educator – Jena Kleindl, English/Journalism, Freeport High School, Freeport School District 145M
ISBE accepts nominations of outstanding educators, school staff, and volunteers for Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Award all year round. Learn more on ISBE’s Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year webpage.
