Thank You, Teachers

Zoki Russo is a third grade teacher at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School with a 14-year track record of getting kids excited, really excited, about coming to school and learning.

Leah Pelletier and English teacher Stacy Rockweiler were recently recognized as distinguished advisors by the Illinois Directors of Student Activities.

“Proudly Bilingual" by McHenry School District 15 reading specialist Araseli Rodriguez has developed large fan base among educators and students.

Crystal Lake teacher Michelle Heidrich and son Ethan co-authored the children’s book “My Brother Has Cancer.” Based on the family’s experiences, the book was released about a year after the death of Heidrich’s oldest son, Will, who died in 2022 at age 17.

Katie Murphy has been working to bring new, nationally recognized biomedical pathway classes to Richmond-Burton High School.

Johnsburg Elementary School teacher Kara Lentine graduated from Judson University just two years ago, but brings new excitement and ideas to her classroom, her principal said.

Andrea Miculinich, a school nurse at Crystal Lake Central, never thought she’d be teaching. But she now leads Crystal Lake-based Community High School District 155′s certified nursing assistant program, which began this past fall.

It only takes walking into Janet Moritz’s classroom to see her approach come alive, with kids helping one another and cheering each other on, Verda Dierzen Principal Tricia Bogott said.

Jennifer Waldack is one of Mary Endres Elementary School's "finest teachers because of her relationship with kids,” the school's principal said. “When I see her teach, I feel like she’s been a teacher forever.”

Since becoming a music teacher at Algonquin Road Elementary School in Fox River Grove this year, Kathleen Choi has made it her mission to get as many instruments as possible into the hands of her students. And, so far, she’s done just that.

Kate Kramer said the best part of her job as a geology instructor at McHenry County College – where she was named 2023 Faculty Member of the Year – is her students who she strives to inspire to “make a positive difference in the world.”

Preschool teacher Yasmin Villamar is thoughtful, compassionate and aware when her students need a little extra attention and inclusion, say parents and colleagues at the deLacey Family Education Center in Carpentersville.

Dennis Anderson: Thank You, Teachers is our way of acknowledging the value these educators have in our lives.

In theory, students can sidestep writing and information gathering by using ChatGPT to create essays and term papers.