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those who excel logoSince 1970, the Illinois State Board of Education has sponsored the Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year program to honor educators who have made significant contributions to our state's public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools. Awards are presented in seven categories: classroom teachers, early career educators (teachers 1-4 years), school administrators, student support personnel, educational service personnel, community volunteers, and teams. Application materials are evaluated by a selection committee composed of individuals who represent a variety of educational organizations. All awardees are honored at an annual banquet in the Spring.  Send a message to awards@isbe.net​ if you have questions about the program.​​​​​​​

​​Recommend an Amazing Illinois Educator

Tell the Illinois State Board of Education about an amazing educator you know! Take five minutes to join ISBE in recognizing the incredible people involved in Illinois schools – from teachers, to principals, to coaches, to counselors, to paraprofessionals, to school board members, and many more. The nomination form is intended to be filled out by someone nominating another person – no self-nominations, please. ISBE will use submissions for the Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards, RISE Awards, and other educator recognition opportunities. Nominations must be submitted by Oct. 15 for consideration in the 2025 award cycle. Send a message to awards@isbe.net if you have questions.​​​​​

Nominate an outstanding educator for a 2025 Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year award!

2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year

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2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year

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ISBE accepts nominations of outstanding educators, school staff, and volunteers all year round! Click the "Nominate an Outstanding Educator" button above. Applications for the 2025 Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards will open in fall 2024. Subscribe to the SOAR Educator Recognition Newsletter for updates!​​​​​​​​​​​

 Teacher of the Year Appearances and Speaking Engagements

2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year Dr. Rachael Mahmood is available for speaking engagements and other events. If you would like to request attendance or participation at an upcoming event, please take a few minutes to fill out the following form. If you have a request that doesn't fit the categories provided, please fill out the last field to fully explain your request.​

 2024 Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awardees

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has honored more than 500 Illinoisans for their extraordinary contributions to education across the state through its annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards. The awardees include 15 members of the Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort. You can find a full list of 2024 awardees herePDF Document.

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