First Month as Illinois Teacher of the Year!

It's been an incredible first month in this role, filled with impactful conversations with people doing meaningful work for education!! I had the opportunity to attend events supporting Autism awareness, Holocaust education, and Muslim students in our schools.

Autism Walk: I had the honor of speaking at a walk (Enoch’s World) to raise awareness for Autism, hosted by the Bolingbrook Ghana community and allies. I shared insights on how neurodiversity enriches our classrooms and the importance of belonging for students with Autism.

West 40 Visit: I visited West 40 to learn about a powerful 360 VR Professional Learning experience, where students engage with movies of stories from Holocaust survivors. I shared a little of my family’s Holocaust survival story. Also, I got a chance to share my initiative for dialogue across diverse educators as a way to build personalized strategies to increase belonging in our schools. Check out this video from the event!

Community Engagement: I ended the week at a local mosque, for family engagement night, discussing the importance of representation in our curriculum. We explored how the TEAACH Act and SB 564, two new laws in Illinois, are helping to ensure that our Asian students and Muslim students (as well as all collective faiths who have shaped American History) have a chance to see themselves reflected in their curriculum, fostering a greater sense of belonging. I also got to bring along Bryn Zingrebe 2024 Illinois’ Outstanding Early Educator! 

Excited for the journey ahead and committed to spreading the message that we all have the agency to help shape a culture of belonging in our educational system!