Suburban educators among 13 Teacher of the Year finalists
Four suburban educators are among the Illinois State Board of Education’s 13 Teacher of the Year finalists for 2025.
The finalists are:
• Cook County Co-Regional Teacher of the Year — Víctor Gómez, science, East Leyden High School, Leyden Community High School District 212
• Far North Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year — Heidie Dunn, English/theater/AVID, McHenry Community High School, McHenry Community High School District 156
• Far West Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year — Michele Oberlin, prekindergarten/early childhood, Madison Early Childhood Education Center, Elmhurst District 205
• Far South Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year — Jennifer Gruca, English language arts, John F. Kennedy Middle School, Plainfield District 202
The state education board also recognized more than 500 educators, administrators, and other school staff through its annual Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year Awards, which celebrate their dedication, innovation and impact in schools statewide. The full list of awardees is available at isbe.net.
“Illinois educators are changing lives every single day, and today we celebrate the very best among them,” State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders said in a news release. “Our 2025 Those Who Excel awardees and Teacher of the Year Cohort exemplify excellence in teaching and leadership, ensuring their students feel supported, included, and inspired.”
The 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year was Rachael Mahmood, a fifth grade teacher at Georgetown Elementary School in Indian Prairie Unit District 204.
Mahmood began her state-funded, yearlong ambassadorship in July. She dedicated the 2024-25 school year to fostering meaningful conversations about belonging in schools and has facilitated World Café events across Illinois. The café engages educators, school leaders, students and their families, and school equity teams in group discussions, generating actionable steps and innovative solutions for building inclusive school communities.
ISBE received a record number of nominations and applications for the 2025 Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year Awards. A committee of administrators, teachers, educational service personnel, student support personnel, and past Illinois Teachers of the Year reviewed those applications and selected this year’s awardees.
Awards are given in seven categories: classroom teachers, early career educators (teachers with one to four years of experience), school administrators, student support personnel, educational service personnel, community volunteers, and teams.
Sanders will select the 2025 Illinois Teacher of the Year from the finalists this spring. All awardees will be honored at ISBE’s annual banquet on May 17.