ISBE Honors Educators at Annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet

NORMAL - The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) celebrated excellence in education at the 52nd Annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet on April 18 in Normal. The event honored the 2026 Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort and nearly 450 exceptional educators, administrators, school staff, and volunteers for the impact they make in classrooms and communities throughout Illinois.

View photos from the banquet​ and the list of this year's awardees​.

"Illinois' educators make our schools and communities immeasurably stronger," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. "What may feel like an ordinary day's work to them is, in truth, extraordinary. It's found in early mornings, tough conversations, and the steady patience educators bring to every student they serve. These often unseen moments shape lives in lasting ways. I am honored to recognize their dedication, their talent, and the love and grit they bring to this profession every single day."

The program included remarks from Dr. Sanders; Laura Gonzalez, who is an ISBE Board member, a multilingual learner teacher at Indian Prairie School District 204's Cowlishaw Elementary School, and an adjunct professor at Aurora University; Víctor Gómez, the 2025 Illinois Teacher of the Year; Seth Brady, the 2026 Illinois Teacher of the Year; and Dr. Jaclyn Lennox, recipient of a 2025-26 Milken Educator Award. A video message from Governor JB Pritzker offered congratulatory remarks. Dr. Lindsey Jensen, the 2018 Illinois Teacher of the Year and director of Early Career Development, Aspiring Educators, and Educators Rising at the Illinois Education Association, served as emcee. McLean County Unit School District 5's Normal West Chamber Choir provided musical entertainment for the more than 1,000 guests in attendance.

"This annual celebration honors the educators whose daily commitment shapes the future of our communities," said Ms. Gonzalez in her remarks at the banquet. "The individuals we recognize exemplify a sustained dedication to inspiring students, nurturing their resilience, and helping them imagine bigger possibilities for themselves. On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to these outstanding honorees. Their leadership, passion, and unwavering belief in young people represent the very best of our profession, and it is a privilege to celebrate their impact."

The annual banquet, sponsored by ISBE for honorees and their guests, recognizes the wide range of roles that support student success - from classroom instruction to leadership, mentorship, and essential school services. Honorees are selected by a committee of educators and stakeholders and recognized at one of three levels: Excellence, Meritorious Service, or Special Recognition.

ISBE received a record number of nominations and applications for the 2026 Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards. Among those recognized was Seth Brady, the 2026 Illinois Teacher of the Year, whose inclusive, inquiry driven teaching and statewide leadership has inspired student advocacy, shaped Illinois' social studies standards, and advanced global education opportunities.

"We all know that, as educators, we have tremendous power to influence individual lives, but I also believe we have the power to influence our communities, our state, and our world," said Brady in his remarks at the banquet. "The challenges that face this generation now and in the future are at a scale that we've never seen before. We need a generation of changemakers, builders, and community strengtheners. The goal I have is to spend my year working side by side with educators to reimagine K-12 education to include agency, advocacy, and community strengthening not as extra asides but as part of the core of what we do as educators."

Brady will begin a state-funded ambassadorship in July and represent Illinois in the National Teacher of the Year program sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers.

At the banquet, ISBE also presented Dr. Jaclyn Lennox, an assistant principal of curriculum and instruction at Valley View School District 365U's Bolingbrook High School and the sole Illinois recipient of the prestigious 2025-26 Milken Educator Award, with the Milken Educator Obelisk.

Nominations for the ISBE Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards are accepted year-round, offering ongoing opportunity to recognize the educators who make a difference in Illinois schools every day. Learn more at ISBE's Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year webpage​.