New Year, New Opportunities For IL Teacher of the Year to Advocate for Educators

As the calendar turned to January, opportunities to connect, learn, and collaborate were welcomed with the New Year. This month, I had the honor of facilitating my largest World Café yet, collecting the voices of 1,600 educators in a single day to discuss belonging in our schools. I also met with key leaders, including Illinois State Senator Cappel and Deputy Governor of Education Martin Torres, to advocate for the incredible work educators do across the state and bring their voices to the forefront of policymaking. The theme of belonging is woven through each of these moments, reminding us all that fostering connection is at the heart of everything we do in education.

Here’s a look at how the month started:

1/3/25 – Facilitating a World Café in Bridgeport, IL For my first trip to Southeastern Illinois, I had the privilege of facilitating a World Café at Red Hill Community Unit District 10 in Bridgeport, IL. This inspiring group of educators tackled tough conversations and action steps for their students on a day when they could have been focused on their own planning. We even honored several outstanding teachers. Though I missed the chance to see Olney’s famous white squirrels, the day was a memorable start to the year!

1/6/25 – Aurora Preschool Educators- Back in Aurora, I met with the preschool educators of the Fox Valley Park District for another impactful session. This time, we explored cultural behaviors in the Early Childhood classroom, equipping these educators with tools to create inclusive environments for our youngest learners.

1/10/25 – Lyons Township High School, LaGrange- I had the pleasure of meeting with the Student Equity and Belonging Committee under the guidance of Dr. Rowe, Director of Equity and Belonging. Together, we planned an exciting event for a local elementary district focused on the power of positive language in creating belonging. It was so energizing to work with students again and see their leadership in action!

1/13/25 – East Aurora School District 131 Hosts The Largest World Café in IL- This was a day to remember! Two groups of 800 educators—certified and non-certified—came together for Illinois' largest World Café yet. We discussed strategies to build belonging for students, families, and every individual in our schools. It was incredible to honor 24 remarkable educators and even a therapy dog who makes a difference every day. The scale and impact of this event left me deeply inspired.

1/15/25 – State Senator Meeting & Concordia University - The day began with a meeting with IL State Senator Cappel, where we discussed my role as Illinois Teacher of the Year, teacher leadership initiatives, and policies around AI supported by Teach Plus. In the evening, I spoke with a group of future administrators at Concordia University about the importance of classroom culture in instruction, behavior, and the MTSS process. Connecting with current and future leaders reminded me of the immense potential we have to shape education policy and practice.

1/17/25 – Meeting with Dept. Gov. Martin Torres and Poe Classical School, Chicago-

I had the opportunity to share World Café data—over 10,000 data points!—with Deputy Governor of Education Martin Torres. We had a productive discussion about the critical need for educators to feel belonging in their schools to increase retention. From there, I traveled to the Pullman neighborhood for my first-ever spelling bee at Poe Classical Elementary School. It was an honor to spend the day with the incredible students and staff, alongside the 2024 Milken Award winner Comfort Agboola.