‘Truly changes lives’: Naperville Central’s Brady named Illinois Teacher of the Year
Saying it left him “speechless,” Naperville Central High School social studies teacher Seth Brady frequently put his face in his hand as he tried to keep his emotions in check Thursday during a surprise announcement that he was the winner of the Illinois Teacher of the Year award.
“My mind sort of went blank seeing so many people that I care so deeply about in the room,” he said after walking into the library under a false pretense and seeing over 100 students, colleagues and family members cheering for him.
“Just speechless,” he said. “Just amazing.”
Brady, 52, was one of 13 finalists for the award after being named Far West Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year in February.
Recognized for creating inclusive, inquiry-driven classrooms that empower students to engage with complex issues, Brady’s students have helped inform multiple pieces of Illinois legislation, including laws related to climate education, media literacy, opioid antagonist access, maternal health equity, allergy education, and fentanyl awareness.
Naperville Central Principal Jackie Thornton said Brady’s work has “challenged us all to think bigger about what teaching and learning can be.”
“In Mr. Brady’s classroom, students don’t just learn about the world, they begin to see their place in it,” Thornton said.
“They ask better questions,” she added. “They take ownership of their learning. And they leave not just with more knowledge, but they leave more aware, more curious and more capable of making an impact.”
A teacher at Naperville Central since 2004, Brady teaches a list of classes, including peace studies, world cultures, anthropology, and world religions.
State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders said Brady had “modeled a powerful vision for teaching grounded in inclusion, inquiry, global awareness and a deep belief in the potential of every student.”
“Mr. Brady has built learning environments where young people are not only academically challenged, but also empowered to take an informed action based on issues that matter to them the most,” Sanders said.
Naperville Unit District 203 Superintendent Dan Bridges praised Brady’s teaching style as not just being about memorizing the past.
“It’s about engaging with the present and shaping the future,” he said. “His students think critically because they analyze complex systems. They communicate and collaborate as they engage in meaningful dialogue and, most importantly, they develop agency, seeing themselves as capable of influencing the world around them.”
One of those students, senior Ellen Small, fought back tears while saying the multiple courses she’s taken with Brady “have been by far the most defining experiences of my high school years.”
“What sets Mr. Brady apart is that he never just stands in front of the room and lectures. Instead, he collaborates, he mentors, and he pushes us to think bigger, question deeper, and actually believe that our voices matter,” Small said.
“He doesn't just teach content,” she said. “He sparks advocacy, fosters growth and truly changes lives.”
Brady spoke of growing up in the small town of Bad Axe, Michigan, which he characterized as “about the size of Naperville Central.”
When Brady was in sixth grade, his school had an exchange student from Peru. That ultimately changed the course of his life.
“As a kid growing up in a small town, you're not exposed to the world,” Brady said. “So that one raindrop into the diversity desert shifted my whole way of seeing the world and seeing myself and seeing humanity.
“Seeing that same light bulb come on with young people never gets old,” he said. “I mean, it's just an amazing feeling that you can sort of viscerally see someone's transformation and realization of what culture really means.”
As the 2026 Illinois Teacher of the Year, Brady will begin a state-funded one-year sabbatical in July. He will also represent Illinois in the National Teacher of the Year program sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers.