Elk Grove High teacher a finalist for tops in the state

An Elk Grove High School teacher is one of 10 finalists for the 2017 Illinois Teacher of the Year, the Illinois State Board of Education announced Thursday. Ricardo Castro is an English as a Second Language, language arts and Spanish teacher at the high school, which is part of Northwest Suburban High School District 214.

The winner will be named during the "Those Who Excel" banquet Oct. 22 in Normal.

The state's annual educator recognition program will acknowledge the contributions and accomplishments of more than 250 educators and school personnel.

"These dedicated educators inspire me every day and I am impressed by the relationships they create with students, colleagues, parents, and the community in order to give students the best learning opportunities available," state Superintendent of Education Tony Smith said in a news release.

The Teacher of the Year will represent Illinois at NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, and in the Council of Chief State School Officers' National Teacher of the Year Program.