advertisement

Fremd educator named Illinois Teacher of the Year

In high school, he was the "bad student."

Steven Elza ditched classes and didn't plan on college until he found a mentor, someone who held him accountable and gave him a good "tongue lashing" when he needed one.

On Saturday, that mentor stood alongside Elza as he received the state's highest teaching honor. The Illinois State Board of Education named Elza the state's Teacher of the Year during a banquet in downstate Normal. His principal at William Fremd High School in Palatine nominated Elza, who teaches automotive technology and runs a weekly auto club.

Elza credits much of his career success to Jim Krudl, who was the program director at the Technology Center of DuPage. In high school, Elza studied under Krudl, who not only stressed academics but also often listened to whatever was going on in the teen's personal life. He would later encourage him to take up teaching when a position opened up at the center.

"This person saw something in myself that I didn't even see," Elza said.

The Schaumburg 34-year-old takes the same approach with his own students. Fremd Principal Kurt Tenopir noted Elza takes each of his students aside at the beginning of the school year, has a one-to-one discussion and learns about their long-term goals.

"We have to make sure every student has a place in that high school," Elza said.

Beginning in the 2015 spring semester, Elza, who beat out 12 finalists for the award, will train other teachers through workshops, educational conferences and community meetings. He also will represent Illinois at the NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, and in the National Teacher of the Year program sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and ING.

"His pathway into teaching, including his experience in being mentored, is an important story for others to hear about as the field of teaching experiences decreased enrollments," State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch said in a news release. "As a career technical educator, he also will be able to provide much-needed insights into the preparation of students for high-paying and rewarding careers."

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.