Naperville instructor is Teacher of the Year, again

A sixth-grade social science and language arts teacher at Naperville's Lincoln Junior High School was named the Illinois Education Association's Teacher of the Year this week in Chicago.

Josh Stumpenhorst already had been named the Illinois State Board of Education's Teacher of the Year last fall.

Stumpenhorst regularly uses technology to engage his students in the classroom. He writes a blog that keeps him in touch with educators around the world, sharing ideas and expanding his own knowledge. As student council adviser, he helped organize fundraising activities to support the troops and local charities. He is nationally board certified.

As one of his students' parents wrote in a letter on his behalf: “There is no doubt that Mr. Stumpenhorst is a dynamic, energetic, fun, cool teacher to have. But his work really exemplifies his dedication to education, and through the use of technology, he creates innovative and exciting ideas and formats in order to provide the best educational and learning experience for a student, as well as for the school."