NEW 200 set to honor three District 200 teachers

Roughly 80 nominations were submitted for the NEW 200 Foundation's annual Distinguished Teacher Awards this year, but only three could make the cut.

President Pamela Paulsen said the teachers were nominated by students, parents, alumni, staff and members of the community in Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 and judged by three former principals.

The selection process included a variety of metrics that considered each nominee's teaching methods, involvement in extracurricular activities and ability to inspire students.

The awards usually are given out at a school board meeting, but Paulsen said this year the foundation thought it would be better to present them during an event where more teachers and students would be present.

"We felt that it should get more recognition," she said.

The recipients - Megan Bostrom, Donna Kozica and Matt Scheffler - include one teacher from each grade level. Each will receive a plaque and gift basket.

Bostrom, a first-grade teacher at Whittier Elementary, has been teaching in District 200 since 1993. She took a six-year break to be a stay-at-home mom, but said she loves being back in the classroom, where she strives to create a "safe, caring, empathic community."

"Sending kids forward with a strong conceptual framework for early numeracy is both my greatest passion and privilege," she said.

Kozica has spent the majority of her 26 years with District 200 at Hubble Middle School, providing services to students and families as a licensed clinical social worker. She serves as chairwoman of the district's social work department and provides leadership on its crisis team and social emotional design team.

Outside school, Kozica has hosted parent education classes and presented at state and national events about crisis intervention for children and adults.

Scheffler, a physics teacher at Wheaton Warrenville South High School, has been part of District 200 for four years. He has served as a mentor for the Tigers Robotics team since it was started two years ago and coaches the boys' junior varsity lacrosse team.

"I'm extremely lucky to be working in the position that I have," he said. "Wheaton Warrenville South is a very special place."