10 U-46 employees honored at state level

Those Who Excel and Golden Apple programs recognize excellence in education

By Tara Burghart (Elgin Area School District U-46)

Five teachers, three administrators, and a coordinator for Elgin Area School District U-46’s homeless education program were recognized recently in the Illinois State Board of Education’s annual Those Who Excel program. In addition, a high school Career and Technical Education teacher was among the finalists for the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.

All 10 were honored by the U-46 board of education with Accent on Achievement certificates.

“Each one of these outstanding individuals is dedicated to helping prepare our students for a successful future,” said U-46 Superintendent Suzanne Johnson. “We celebrate their experience, enthusiasm, and passion, and we are grateful to have them as part of the U-46 team.”

Golden Apple is an Illinois nonprofit committed to recognizing exemplary educators and developing future educators. The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching honors outstanding teachers for having lasting, positive effects on students’ lives and school communities.

ISBE’s Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year Awards celebrate classroom teachers, administrators, teams, volunteers, and school support personnel who have made lasting impacts on the students, families, and fellow educators in their school communities. ISBE will celebrate the awardees at a spring banquet.

The 10 honored U-46 employees are as follows:

• Kimberly Blazek, a second-grade teacher at Centennial Elementary School in Bartlett, ISBE Award of Excellence, Classroom Teacher

• Patricia Briones, Project Access coordinator, ISBE Award of Special Recognition, Student Support Personnel

• Matt Erbach, precision manufacturing teacher at South Elgin High School, Golden Apple Award for Excellence, CTE teacher

• Jill Gerovac, math teacher at Eastview Middle School in Bartlett, ISBE Award of Excellence, classroom teacher

• Angela Ginnan, principal at Eastview Middle School, ISBE Award of Meritorious Service, school administrator

• Paul Kowalyszyn, English teacher and instructional coach at Streamwood High School, ISBE Award of Meritorious Service, classroom teacher

• Lela Majstorovic, U-46’s Deputy Superintendent of Instruction, ISBE Award of Meritorious Service, school administrator

• Rafael Martinez-Ortiz, associate principal at Dream Academy in Elgin, ISBE Award of Special Recognition, school administrator

• Jose Mora, world languages and dual credit teacher at South Elgin High School, ISBE Award of Special Recognition, classroom teacher

• Angela Rojas, early childhood teacher at Independence Center for Early Learning in Bartlett, ISBE Award of Special Recognition, classroom teacher.