Lake Zurich chamber announces educator award winner

The 2012 Lake Zurich Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year Award has been presented to Regina Hope of Isaac Fox Elementary School.

Hope has been the social worker at the school for the past five years and has made a significant difference in the lives of many students, officials said.

She is a dedicated educator whose constant mission is a refinement of her skills. She seeks out new ideas, strategies, and materials that will enhance her program.

She assists teachers throughout the building by designing materials and intervention programs that are innovative, effective, and useful so teachers can implement them in their classrooms.

Hope maintains a special relationship with each of her students, officials said. She treats each one with great dignity and self-respect. She approaches each student with care and understanding, patience and guidance and a positive attitude.

Because of Hope’s suggestions for behavior plans and other interventions for students, they are able to experience success in the school and classroom environment.

Hope has created an environment that focuses on building positive student self-esteem. Her implementation of the “rough spot” training gives students a strategy for dealing with their feelings when they experience times that trigger anger, loss of self-esteem, or other emotions.

As a result, students have an opportunity to grow in self-esteem, self-confidence, self-reliance and other relationship skills. These experiences provide students with strategies they can use throughout their lives.

In addition, Hope annually coordinates Relational Aggression Groups for the fourth-grade girls and boys, she volunteers her time in the after-school Homework Club, and she serves on the District 95 Social Emotional Learning Committee.