Seven Educators Named as Finalists for the 2010 Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards
Contact:
Lou Bank
Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards
847 201 6476
|
February 5, 2010
Note to Media: This announcement of the seven finalists for the Kohl
McCormick Awards provides you with a chance to recognize
outstanding educators in the Chicagoland area. Three recipients will be selected from among the seven finalists. Those recipients will be honored at a luncheon ceremony at the Westin Chicago River North on Tuesday, June 8. Photos of finalists are available upon request.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Seven Educators Named as Finalists for the
2010 Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards
CHICAGO -- Seven of metropolitan Chicago’s finest educators who work with 3- to 8-year-old children have been selected as finalists for the 2010 Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards. The finalists
exemplify the best practices of quality early childhood teaching:
dedication, innovation, leadership, respect for children and their
families, and commitment to professional growth. They work in public schools in Chicago and Evanston, in Preschool For All and kindergarten through third-grade classrooms.
The process began last fall when an esteemed committee of leaders in the field of early childhood education nominated 12 outstanding
teachers for this award. The fellows of the Kohl McCormick Academy of Outstanding Educators teamed with other leaders in the field to conduct site visits on these nominees, selecting seven to be finalists.
Three of these outstanding educators will be chosen to represent the best of the field, following a final application process that includes
written applications and interviews with a panel of experts. Those three honorees will be announced in April, and they will be honored at the 2010 Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards luncheon
ceremony on Tuesday, June 8, at the Westin Chicago River North.
Each of the three honorees will receive:
- A $5,000 cash award
- A $1,000 cash award for their school
- Induction into the Kohl McCormick Academy of Outstanding Educators
- A classroom visit and professional development from the StoryBus
- A graduate-level course at The Erikson Institute
- Recognition at a formal awards ceremony
While there are numerous teaching awards in the United States, the Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards is the first awards program to formally recognize the contributions of teachers working with children from infancy through third grade. In its fifteenth year, the Kohl McCormick Awards program has become a model for recognition of outstanding early childhood educators.
“In the current economy, it is even more important to make wise
investments of limited resources. The McCormick Foundation knows that every dollar spent on early care and education yields a high return on investment,” says Sara Slaughter, Director of the Education Program of the McCormick Foundation. “The Kohl McCormick Teaching Award winners
prepare children for success in school as well as life. The McCormick
Foundation applauds these winning teachers and their tireless efforts in working with our youngest children and their families.”
“These teachers--these seven finalists--symbolize everything these Awards stand for: the potential of one dedicated human being to make a
significant difference in the life trajectory of a child,” observes Lou Bank, Vice President of the Dolores Kohl Education Foundation. “They are laying the groundwork that will allow the children in their classrooms to become successful, productive adults.”
The Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards program is
sponsored by the McCormick Foundation and the Dolores Kohl Education Foundation. Since 1993, the education program of the McCormick
Foundation has committed more than $67 million in resources and
expertise to improve the quality of early childhood education in the
metropolitan Chicago area.
Visit www.kohlmccormickawards.org to learn more about this program.
Finalists – 2010 Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards
| Becky Benkiser School: |
Mitchell Elementary (Ukranian Village)
2233 W. Ohio St., Chicago IL 60612
773.534.7655
Second grade |
| Residence: |
Roscoe Village |
| |
| Nicole Gorton School: |
Ortiz de Dominguez Elementary (North Lawndale)
3000 S. Lawndale St., Chicago IL 60623
773.534.1600
Preschool, Kindergarten, children with autism |
| Residence |
Lakeview |
| |
| Hugo Luna School: |
Barry Elementary (Kilbourn Park)
2828 N. Kilbourn Ave., Chicago IL 60641
773.534.3455
Preschool For All |
| Residence |
Belmont Heights |
| |
| Shannon Lynn School: |
Sabin Magnet School (Wicker Park)
2216 W. Hirsch St., Chicago IL 60622
773.534.4491
Third grade |
| Residence |
Wicker Park |
| |
| Heather Madden School: |
Bridge Elementary (Dunning)
3800 N. New England Ave., Chicago IL 60634
773.534.3718
Preschool For All |
| Residence |
Humboldt Park |
| |
| Anne McKenna School: |
Dewey Elementary (Evanston)
1551 Wesley Ave., Evanston IL 60201
847.859.8140
Second grade |
| Residence |
Bucktown |
| |
| Kristin Ziemke-Fastabend School: |
Burley Elementary (Lakeview)
1630 W. Barry Ave., Chicago IL 60657
773.534.5475
First grade |
| Residence |
Lincoln Square |
| |
Kohl McCormick
Early Childhood
Teaching Awards
1770 First St.
Suite 500
Highland Park, IL 60035
847/433-8340
Fax: 847/433-8498
Dolores Kohl
Education Foundation
Dolores Kohl
President & CEO
McCormick
Foundation
David D. Hiller
President & CEO
Birth-to-Great
Champions
Dennis J. FitzSimons
Ronald J. Gidwitz
Joan Harris
R. Eden Martin
Richard P. Kiphart
J.B. Pritzker
Harrison I. Steans
Errol L. Stone
Frederick Waddell