Gurnee village board to honor three teachers

Gurnee village board members will honor three teachers in what has become an annual recognition program.

Trustees and Mayor Kristina Kovarik will be part of the third annual Teacher of the Year ceremony for the three districts serving Gurnee as part of a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at village hall, 325 N. O'Plaine Road. Also participating will be the superintendents of Warren Township High School District 121, Gurnee Elementary District 56 and Woodland Elementary District 50.

"The Teacher of the Year program sponsored by the village of Gurnee to recognize outstanding teachers at each of the three Gurnee school districts is a very powerful symbol of the gratitude that we all have for amazing teachers in our lives that have developed skills and inspired hope for our futures," Warren Superintendent John Ahlgrim said. "This is an annual celebration of incredible teaching and learning in our Gurnee schools."

This year's winners are District 56's Aprilanne Lynch, District 121's Patsy Thompson and District 50's Tamara Graham.

Ahlgrim said Thompson, who is in her 23rd year as a Warren special-education teacher, knew at a very young age she wanted to teach children with special needs. He said Thompson takes her role as a special-education instructor seriously.

"She is not afraid to ask questions or gain feedback from others," Ahlgrim said. "She is always working."

Graham, a third-grade teacher, has been with Woodland for 18 years. Graham has become known for holding the trial of the Big Bad Wolf in an effort to bring to life the story of "The Three Little Pigs," with retired Lake County Circuit Judge Raymond McKoski presiding, so students learn about the judicial system.

Woodland Superintendent Joy Swoboda said Graham is "a dedicated teacher with a genuine and caring heart."

Kevin Simmons, principal of Prairie Trail School in Wadsworth, said Lynch has been with District 56 for the past seven years. She is a fifth-grade classroom teacher who handles various subjects such as mathematics, language arts and science.

"She is innovative and willing to take risks to find creative ways to engage students in their learning," Simmons said.

"She has inspired countless students to attain the highest levels of achievement and pushed all of her students to make growth."