Kane County Educator of the Year nominees
High school teacher: Ryan Herlihy, math, East Aurora High School; Rene Swidenbank, German, Geneva High School; Cindy Miller, physical education and health, Kaneland High School, Maple Park; Alice Froemling, English and language arts, St. Charles North High School; Mike Schmidt, social studies, Burlington Central High School; Candice Coleman, special education, Burlington Central High School; Sharon Young, special education English and writing, St. Charles East High School.
Middle school teacher: Matt Gain, science, Geneva Middle School South; Dane Huseman, Cambridge Lakes Charter School, Pingree Grove; Shaista Kahn, problem solving, Fred Rogers Magnet Academy, Aurora; Amy Pifer, eighth-grade English, Harter Middle School, Sugar Grove; Amy O'Herron, sixth-grade math, Carpentersville Middle School.
Elementary teacher: Laurie Perry, fourth grade, Harrison Street School, Geneva; Mike Storer, fifth-grade band, Liberty Elementary School, Carpentersville; Sarah Sheppard, first and second grade, Cambridge Lakes Charter School, Pingree Grove; Jamie Holubecki, physical education, Blackberry Creek Elementary School, Elburn; Mary Jensen, music, Alice Gustafson Elementary School, Batavia; Lauren Klinsky, fifth grade, Beaupre Elementary School, Aurora; Cindy Mieland, kindergarten, JB Nelson Elementary School, Batavia.
Preschool teacher: Angie Rojas, special education, Independence Center for Early Learning, Bartlett; Ivonne Serrano, early childhood, O'Donnell Elementary School, Aurora; Stephanie Thoren, deLacey Family Education Center, Carpentersville.
Early career educator: Angellica Ahng, seventh-grade science, Cowherd Middle School, Aurora; Erin Tapins, special education, Independence Center for Early Learning, Bartlett.
School administrator: Noah Little, principal, Krug Elementary School, Aurora; Lisa Bergbreiter, principal, Independence Center for Early Learning, Bartlett; Shelley Nacke, assistant superintendent for education services, Community Unit District 300; Kathy Kostos, principal, McCleery Elementary School, Aurora; Kathy Webster, assistant principal, John Stewart Elementary School, Elburn; Mike Sommerfeld, athletic director, St. Charles East High School; Suzanne Johnson, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, Elgin Area School District U-46.
Education service: Angie Casebeer, paraprofessional, Independence Center for Early Learning, Bartlett; Bonnie Droesch, secretary, Independence Center for Early Learning, Bartlett; Laura Beatus, professional development coordinator, West Aurora Unit District 129; Lucy Johnson, Thompson Middle School, St. Charles; Joan Rule, principal's secretary and book keeper, Harter Middle School, Sugar Grove; Frank Mendoza, fireperson, Benavides Kindergarten Center, Aurora; Debra Brannon, administrative assistant, St. Charles North High School.
Student support: Anne Hughes, social worker, East Aurora High School; Bruce Fraser, library information specialist, West Aurora High School; Amy Boynton, school nurse, St. Charles North High School; Laurie Villalobos, response-to-intervention coordinator, Harter Middle School, Sugar Grove; Shirley Appler, vision paraeducator, Elgin High School; Lisa Cole, counselor, St. Charles East High School.
Source: Kane County Regional Office of Education