Conant teacher nominated for 'Teacher of the Year'
It would have meant a lot for Conant High School teacher Ann Metaxatos to be named the 2009-10 Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education Saturday in Peoria.
But Metaxatos, of Bloomingdale, said she still feels good, "because I won't have to travel too much and I won't be out of the classroom."
The main thing, she said, is being with "my kids."
Finalists were nominated through the board's "Those Who Excel" educator recognition program. Nominations are made by administrators, teachers, parents, students or anyone familiar with an outstanding educator.
Nearly 175 nominations were reviewed by the selection committee. Each nomination is reviewed and scored three times, according to the state board's Web site.
Teachers are scored based on background information and letters of recommendation. In addition, nominees are evaluated on student success, collaboration, continuous learning and leadership.
The Teacher of the Year winner represents Illinois at NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., and in the National Teacher of the Year Program. This year's winner was Kevin Rutter from Chicago, who teaches economics at Carl Schurz High School in the city.
Metaxatos is an English and reading teacher for senior students at the Hoffman Estates High School, which is in Township High School District 211.
Metaxatos said she was disappointed for the district to lose the honor, but not upset personally. She added it is still impressive to be nominated among more than 100,000 teachers in the state.
"It shows how hard my kids are working," she said. "It's about the relationship with the students. Children need human interaction and learning. That's really paramount. Otherwise the computer could do the job."
Attending the ceremony were her mother, sister, husband and son, as well as colleagues and officials from the district.
"It was like going to a giant wedding," she said of the banquet attended by 500 people at the Père Marquette Hotel in Peoria. "It gave me goose bumps that I was surrounded by the best professionals in the state."
She said she was especially gratified to be accompanied by Conant Principal Tim Cannon, who nominated her and helped her to blossom as a teacher.