Local Teacher Awarded Teacher Leadership Scholarship

In January 2014, Laura Hluchy, a Spanish Bilingual Cross-Categorical teacher at Heritage Elementary in Streamwood, IL, was awarded a Teacher Leadership Scholarship. Each year, Illinois Women in Educational Leadership (IWEL) offers two $565 scholarships to support IWEL members pursuing National Board certification. IWEL was founded in 1978 as Illinois Women Administrators (IWA). Serving practicing and aspiring superintendents, central office administrators, principals, teacher leaders, and higher education administrators and faculty, IWEL's mission is to improve Illinois schools by networking and supporting women educational leaders into positions of influence.

Laura studied, lived, and volunteered in Costa Rica for about a year and a half. She has a great passion for teaching, as well as traveling to learn and study about other cultures. When she returned to the United States, Laura became a Title 1 Spanish bilingual teacher assistant. After her first year of assisting she enrolled in the Masters program at National-Louis University; Laura studied and continued to assist for a second school year. She student taught high school in Ecuador and a few months later started her career as a Spanish bilingual teacher. For five years, she also enjoyed teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) during the evenings to adult students. She is actively involved in her school and community as she leads committees that have impacted the lives of many students.

Laura was recognized at IWEL's 2012 Dare to be Great Conference, which was held at Ewing Cultural Center in Bloomington, IL April 25 - 26. For more information about IWEL's annual Teacher Leadership Scholarship, please visit www.iwel.org.