Barnes & Noble announces ‘My Favorite Teacher’ contest winners
Three Naperville-area teachers were selected as local winners in the “My Favorite Teacher” contest sponsored by Barnes & Noble, Inc., the world’s largest book seller.
Pamela Kelly from Naper Elementary School in Naperville Unit District 203 won in the grades 1-5 category.
Anthony Kresl from Highlands Elementary School in District 203 won in the grades 6-8 category.
Susan Philos from Metea Valley High School in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 won in the grades 9-12 category.
The winners were chosen from more than 30 entries at the Barnes & Noble store at Washington Street and Chicago Avenue in Naperville. Each of the three were nominated by one of their students.
Students were invited to nominate their teacher by writing essays, poems or thank you letters that share how their teacher has influenced their life and why they appreciate and admire their teacher.
Entries were judged on the compelling nature of the teacher’s qualities, the sincerity of the student’s appreciation, and the quality of expression and writing.
Kelly, Kresl and Philos will be recognized at an event at the Naperville Barnes & Noble, where they will receive a special award acknowledging their achievement, a set of five Sterling Children’s Classics books for their personal or classroom library, and additional recognition and praise from the community.
Students Kara Oxenknecht, Agustin Forero and Nicole Knoepfle, who wrote the winning essays or poems, each will receive a certificate of recognition and will be honored at the Naperville store during the ceremony for the winning teachers.
The three winners will be entered into the regional competition. Each regional winner will receive a NOOK Color e-book Reader and a $500 Barnes & Noble gift card.
From the pool of regional winners, Barnes & Noble will name one teacher the “Barnes & Noble National Teacher of the Year.” The winning teacher will receive $5,000 and the title of “My Favorite Teacher.” The winner will be recognized at a special community celebration at his or her local Barnes & Noble store. The winning teacher’s school will receive $5,000 as well.
The winner also will receive five copies of the winning essay published in hardcover by Tikatok.com, the site where students create and publish their own books, and a $250 Tikatok gift card that will allow the teacher to publish select stories written by students in their class.
The Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher program provides students with the opportunity to tell their communities how much they appreciate their teachers.
Teachers from grades 1 through 12 were eligible for nomination. Only students enrolled in grades 1-12 and active teachers employed in elementary, middle or high schools in the United States are eligible to win.
More details on the contest rules can be found at bn.com/myfavoriteteacher.