Lake Zurich chamber honors educator of the year

The 2011 Lake Zurich Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year Award has been presented to Jennifer Lippert.

Lippert has been with Lake Zurich Unit District 95 for 11 years, teaching language arts/literature at Middle School North.

This past year, she assumed the role of co-chairwoman of the school’s language arts department. She has taken the department to a new level of performance through her focus on student learning, class instructional strategies, professional collaboration and departmental professional development, officials said.

Lippert has willingly and effectively collaborated with many of her Middle School North colleagues — including the school’s reading specialist, various special education teachers, fine and applied arts teachers, in order to provide effective and equitable learning experiences for as many students as possible, officials said.

She has served on the School Improvement Plan team for many years and was instrumental in re-focusing plans on student learning and growth.

Lippert also sponsored the school newspaper for many years, and in that role built a newspaper that genuinely reflected the work and voice of the students.

“With the attention and prominence given to literacy and students’ ability to read effectively, Jen Lippert’s contributions to Middle School North and Community Unit School District 95 are truly distinguished,” said Principal Mark Richter.

Superintendent Mike Egan called Lippert “a student-centered teacher, promoting literacy and working to ensure all students are successful.”

All 2011 Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year nominees:

Anna Berman, Trilogy School of Performing Arts; Melanie Honegger, Lake Zurich Middle School North; Phil Stanko, Lake Zurich High School; Bill Herlocker, Middle School North; Brenda Bollman, May Whitney Elementary School; Suzanne Weider, Seth Paine Elementary School; John Zarr, Lake Zurich High School; Liz Atkinson, May Whitney Elementary School; Jennifer Lippert, Middle School North; Jill Brooks, Isaac Fox Elementary School