Suburban teachers recognized among top educators in state

State education officials Tuesday recognized 29 top educators as the best in their fields of expertise for the 2015-16 school year.

The Illinois State Board of Education, along with the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education Association, honored the nominees during their sixth annual Exemplary Teacher Recognition Award luncheon at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

“These outstanding teachers spend their days building relationships with students so they can give each of them the support and guidance they need to learn and grow,” State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith said. “The passion, enthusiasm and dedication for teaching these educators exhibit is felt by students, colleagues, administrators and parents. We are pleased to publicly thank them for their tireless efforts.”

Each fall, the state board names one teacher of the year and recognizes more than 200 educators nominated by their own districts or members of their communities for outstanding service through the Those Who Excel program.

The Exemplary Teacher luncheon provides an opportunity to honor other award-winning teachers statewide. Nominees were selected by their professional education organizations.

“Illinois is home to outstanding educators who go above and beyond every day,” IFT President Dan Montgomery said.

The following 10 suburban teachers were among those recognized:

• Martha Behlow, Illinois Foreign Language Teacher of the Year, Geneva High School.

• Michael Biondo, ICE Educator of the Year, Maine South High School, Park Ridge.

• Candace Fikis, Outstanding Economics Teacher, West Chicago High School.

• Mary Girardi, 2015 School Nurse of the Year, Elgin Area School District U-46.

• Corey Holmer, 2015 Outstanding Young Educator, Crystal Lake Elementary District 47.

• Ben Leven, Health Education Teacher of the Year, Twin Groves Middle School, Buffalo Grove.

• Amy Lewis, IEA Teacher of the Year, Iroquois Community School, Des Plaines.

• Vicky Nordhem, Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year, Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire.

• Bill Roloff, T.E. Rine Secondary Mathematics Teaching Award, Lake Park High School, Roselle.

• Brayer Teague, Grammy Music Educator Award, Downers Grove North High School.