The 47th Educator of the Year Banquet will be held in 2023 at the Q Center in St. Charles. This year's banquet will be held on Friday, May 3rd.
Provided by Kane County Local Education Department
Each year, the Kane County Regional Office of Education recognizes professionals from across Kane County at the Educator of the Year Banquet. This is an opportunity for hundreds of school professionals, friends and families to come together for a night of celebration and reflection on the achievements and dedication of staff across the education sector.
The 48th Annual Educator of the Year Banquet, to be held at the Q Center in St. Charles on Friday, May 3, will mark a significant milestone with a record-breaking 57 nominations. These candidates include representatives from each of his nine unit school districts in Kane County.
Although each is eligible to be named Educator of the Year, the honorees will be recognized in seven prominent categories: Early Childhood Educator, Early Childhood/Elementary School, Educational Services Personnel, Middle School, High School, Student Services Personnel, and School Administrator. It also straddles.
“The number of nominations we received is a reflection of the time spent by our colleagues who completed the submission process,” said Patricia Dal Santo, regional superintendent of the Kane County Regional Office of Education. “This is a testament to the great work being done in our schools and the significant impact our educators are making on the lives of Kane County students, staff and communities.”
For candidates to be eligible, participants are required to submit a peer nomination form, work experience, leadership examples, accomplishments, and at least one letter of recommendation from a teacher, administrator, parent, student, or community member. You can.
These often take the form of extensive binders or scrapbooks that cover the candidate's personal and professional life through photos, artwork, and themes.
Nominations are then reviewed by a group of student teachers, retired teachers, university representatives, business representatives, and national board certified teachers.
“They have evolved over time into a labor of love. For the thousands of pages of stories we submitted, we summarize what these educators did for the people they serve. “We aim to do that,” Dal Santo said. “Reading these books is a highlight of the year, and the review process can be challenging but fun.”
Local education department staff will travel throughout Kane County to interview each candidate. These provide an opportunity for candidates to share their experiences and what drives them, giving the event a personal touch.
In addition to honoring these outstanding educators, the banquet will feature student participation from the districts traditionally served by ROE. This will include a color presentation by Junior ROTC and pre-banquet musical performance.
At a banquet on May 3, the Kane County Regional Office of Education will recognize retiring superintendents Dr. Jeff Craig of West Aurora Unit District 129 and Dr. Susan Harkin of Community Unit District 300.
The ROE will also recognize two retiring superintendents: Dr. Jeff Craig of West Aurora Unit District 129 and Dr. Susan Harkin of Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300.
Part of the event will also honor educational staff who passed away this year.
“We're always looking for ways to expand and add different touches every year,” Dal Santo said. “It’s not just the school community that is participating. Kane County government officials and members of the Illinois State Board of Education are also participating, making it a celebration of education across Kane County and the state of Illinois. We want to make this event a memorable one for everyone who strives to join us.”
