ILLINOIS NETWORK OF CHARTER SCHOOLS HONORS THREE OUTSTANDING CHICAGO EDUCATORS WITH $10,000 AND STATEWIDE AWARD RECOGNITION

 ILLINOIS NETWORK OF CHARTER SCHOOLS HONORS THREE OUTSTANDING CHICAGO EDUCATORS WITH $10,000 AND STATEWIDE AWARD RECOGNITION

The Charter Excellence Awards celebrate individuals who go above and beyond for their schools, students, and communities.

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) is honoring three Chicago educators with Charter Excellence Awards for Illinois Principal of the Year, Elementary School Teacher of the Year, and High School Teacher of the Year. Each honoree will receive $10,000 and be surprised with their award at a school assembly in front of their students, families, and peers.
Since 2011, INCS has recognized exceptional principals, teachers, students, and advocates statewide with the Charter Excellence Awards. These awards honor and recognize outstanding achievement and the exceptional contributions the honoree has made to their schools, communities, and students. This year, we received 92 nominations from charter schools across the state.

As background, charter schools are public schools. In Illinois, 134 charter schools are educating 60,853 students, 96.4% of whom are students of color and 85% of whom receive free or reduced lunch. These schools are tuition-free and open to all students. They provide parents with a public school option that ensures all Illinois students, especially those from educationally underserved communities, have access to a high-quality public school that meets their needs.

All finalists and winners will be recognized at an awards reception next month, where they will be joined by elected officials, charter public school leaders, and community supporters. Below are details on when the surprise ceremonies will be held.

Elementary School Teacher of the Year: Precious Allen
High School Teacher of the Year: Robert Barz
Principal of the Year: Carrie Spitz

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) advocates for the improvement of public education by leveraging the charter school model as a catalyst to transform lives and communities. As the voice of Illinois charter schools, INCS engages a diverse coalition of policymakers, school leaders, parents, and community members to create systemic change and secure high-quality schools for underserved communities. Learn more at incschools.org.


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