St. Charles teacher finalist for top state award

A St. Charles Middle School language arts teacher is one of nine finalist for the Illinois State Board of Education’s 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year.

“I’m thrilled and humbled to be named a finalist,” said Melissa Byrne, who has taught six years for Community Unit School District 303.

“This is an honor that also belongs to our staff at Haines Middle School because our success as a school begins with collaboration and focus on instruction.”

Byrne taught eighth-grade language arts for five years before becoming a sixth-grade language arts teacher and team leader at the start of this school year.

Byrne was nominated by the district’s Learning and Teaching Department and she is credited with using technology to bolster class lessons.

For example, she used Skype to have a conversation with one of the subjects of the “Freedom Writers” book.

Haines Principal Robert Miller said Byrne is an outgoing, personable teacher who will do whatever it takes to help her students succeed. He praised her for using technology and making lesson plans relevant to “what’s going on in the world and what’s going on in life.

“She relates very well to her students. The material in her class, she brings it to real life,” Miller said. “There’s no doubt she should be one of the finalists. I don’t think there’s any part of her teaching that shows any weakness at all.”

A selection committee made up of administrators, teachers, past winners and others reviewed about 175 nominations from across the state.

The Teacher of the Year will be announced during the “Those Who Excel” banquet Oct. 22 in Normal.

The winner will represent Illinois at NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., and in the Council of Chief State School Officers’ National Teacher of the Year Program.

“Illinois is fortunate to have many, many outstanding teachers who are committed to helping students achieve and succeed,” Illinois State Board of Education Chairman Gery Chico said on the ISBE’s website.

“The teachers who have been chosen as finalists represent the best of the best, and this program enables us to publicly recognize them for their dedication to education.”