Downers Grove North science teacher wins DuPage educator of the year
A Downers Grove North High School teacher lauded for inspiring students to see science in the world around them was named the 2026 DuPage County Educator of the Year.
Science teacher Jeff Grant, who has been with Community High School District 99 for 23 years, received the award from the DuPage County Regional Office of Education during its second annual Educator of the Year awards celebration on April 30.
“Jeff Grant represents the very best of our profession,” Regional Superintendent Amber Quirk said in a news release. “He is deeply committed to his students, constantly pushing them to think critically and engage meaningfully with the world around them.”
Grant, who teaches AP biology and anatomy, is known for transforming the way students experience science. officials said. His students design and conduct complex experiments, engage in authentic research, and explore real-world challenges such as climate change and environmental sustainability.
The DuPage Regional Office of Education also recognized a half dozen other award winners during the event in Glen Ellyn:
• Matt Davidson, superintendent of Timothy Christian Schools in Elmhurst, was named Private/Parochial Educator of the Year.
• Paraprofessional Kerry Gustafson of Washington Junior High School in Naperville was named Educational Support Person of the Year.
• Katie Poch, a fifth-grade teacher at Carl Sandburg Elementary School in Wheaton, was awarded Elementary/Early Childhood Educator of the Year.
• David James, who teaches math at Hill Middle School in Naperville, was named Middle School Educator of the Year.
• Naperville Central High School social studies teacher Todd Holmberg was awarded High School Educator of the Year.
• Elizabeth Vander Woude, assistant director of programs at School Association for Special Education in DuPage County, was named Administrator of the Year.
The DuPage Regional Office of Education serves as a central support hub for schools, educators, and communities across the county and supports 42 school districts, 256 schools, and more than 140,000 students.