FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                   Contact: Tara Burghart  

March 17, 2026                                                                                                            Phone: 847-888-5000, ext. 5300

Seven U-46 Employees Honored by Illinois State Board of Education

Those Who Excel program recognizes excellence in education 

ELGIN - Five teachers, an assistant principal, and a school counselor from School District U-46 were recognized recently in the annual Those Who Excel program presented by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). All seven were honored Monday night by the U-46 Board of Education with Accent on Achievement certificates.

“These outstanding employees truly embody the dedication, leadership, and care that make a difference in the lives of our students every day,” said Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Johnson. “Their commitment to excellence ensures that every learner in our district has the opportunity to grow and succeed.

ISBE’s Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year Awards spotlight teachers, administrators, volunteers, and student support personnel who are making meaningful contributions to students and school communities across Illinois. ISBE will celebrate the awardees at a spring banquet.

Also on Monday night, the U-46 Board of Education honored three teachers who have recently renewed their National Board Certification.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards oversees the process for National Board Certification, the highest credential in the teaching profession. The initial certification can take a teacher one to three years to complete; a teacher must go through a process to maintain their certificate every five years to keep it active.

The honored U-46 employees are as follows:

###

School District U-46 serves families in 11 communities: Bartlett, Elgin, Hanover Park, South Elgin, Streamwood and Wayne, as well as portions of Carol Stream, Hoffman Estates, St. Charles, Schaumburg, and West Chicago. In total, the District encompasses 90 square miles within the Fox River Valley, approximately 45 minutes northwest of downtown Chicago, and includes communities within Cook, DuPage and Kane counties. Thirty-three thousand preschoolers through twelfth graders attend the 56 District schools and programs. To learn more, visit the U-46 website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.