Ottawa High’s Ellen Gross builds students’ skills – and confidence
Margo Cartwright will remember the smiles, hugs as she retires from Princeton Elementary
Woodland’s Lisa Jackson provides a ‘safe space’ for students to share, to vent
Thank You Teacher Letters 2025: News Tribune
Thank You Teacher Letters 2025: The Times
Read our letters submitted by students and parents to The Times for our 2025 Thank You Teachers special edition
Putnam County’s Joshua Curry uses art as a gateway to open opportunities for students
Putnam County High School art teacher Joshua Curry believes cultivating a student’s creativity is important. He has a way of encouraging risk taking and instilling confidence in students.
DePue’s John Beatty, science teacher and coach for over 30 years, has found right track in education
In a career of more than 30 years, John Beatty has taught and coached in schools big and small. Through it all he’s enjoyed the interactions with students and ‘pushing them to be the best they can
Pizza Pi, Starbucks reading days are ways Marseilles Elementary’s Cheyenne Timm engages students
Now in her third year at Marseilles Elementary, Cheyenne Timm is known for creating a welcoming, hands-on classroom environment that prepares students academically while helping them build the skills and confidence they’ll need for middle school.
Martin Czernicki brings ‘sense of community’ to Shepherd Middle School’s band program
At Shepherd Middle School in Ottawa, the band class is more than just an extracurricular activity – it’s a place for students to grow, connect and express themselves. Leading the charge is Martin Czernicki, the school’s band
IVCC’s Vince Brolley says teaching honor ‘is like getting praised for eating ice cream’
Teaching dual credit courses for Illinois Valley Community College puts Vince Brolley back in high school, where he feels right at home.