The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) celebrated the 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort and Those Who Excel awardees at a banquet in Bloomington-Normal on May 18 with more than 1,000 guests. The program included acknowledgements from Governor JB Pritzker, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders, ISBE Board Chair and 1998 Illinois Teacher of the Year Dr. Steven Isoye, 2023 Illinois Teacher of the Year Briana Morales, and 2024 Teacher of the Year Dr. Rachael Mahmood. Dr. Lindsey Jensen, the 2018 Illinois Teacher of the Year and state coordinator for Educators Rising Illinois, emceed the evening’s festivities. The annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet, sponsored by ISBE for honorees and their guests, recognizes the incredible work happening in and around Illinois schools and celebrates the exemplary educators who go above and beyond to make positive impacts in their school communities. Honorees include outstanding classroom teachers, administrators, teams, volunteers, educational service personnel, and school support personnel.

Pictured (left to right): Dr. Isoye, ISBE Board Member Laura Gonzalez, Dr. Mahmood and Dr. Sanders