Since 1970, the Illinois Board of Education (ISBE) has recognized those who have excelled and established a Teacher of the Year program to honor educators who have had a significant impact on the state’s schools.   

11 members of the H-F staff have been seen to this stellar accomplishment.

  Those teachers included Christina Clark, Courtney Hendricks, Kanoa Mulling and Beverly Woods-Lenore, who were given awards for Meritorious Service.  

Additionally, Heithon Hurdle, Jr., John Manthey, Crystal Perez, Mylan Reeves, Cody Rudnik, Gail Smith and Anna Tenny received Awards of Special Recognition.

Those teachers have been recognized for all they have done for our H-F community.  

Perez, an English teacher who earned the Award of Special Recognition, revealed her inner thoughts on this.

“I’ve been here for 15 years. It’s nice to be recognized, and the students writing letters was special to me. Sharing knowledge, experiences and helping students feel confident and comfortable in sharing their voice. The students make it fun, especially learning who they are deep down and helping them navigate,” she stated. 

Students enjoy having a teacher who is understanding and especially one who lets you speak your mind, so for this to be seen by others, it says a lot about who she is as both a teacher and a person. 

Mulling, an English teacher who won the Award of Meritorious Service, expressed his gratitude for receiving the award and also described how he views his role as a teacher here at H-F. 

“To be a teacher is to be someone a little farther down the line of life’s journey. The only difference is [that] you are eager to lend a helping hand to those who aren’t there yet. We want to give the experiences and what we have learned to transmit them to those who have experience, and belief in that is what keeps me going,” he said.

Though it has a poetic ring, Mulling’s statement reveals that he, as a teacher, is eager to teach and, overall, to help students. Having teachers like this in our department is remarkable.  

Clark, a Student Support Personnel received the Award of Meritorious Service, responded.

She stated, “I am truly honored to receive this ISBE award, especially knowing that the initial nomination came from my colleagues. It is a privilege to serve HF students alongside such passionate and dedicated educators.” Clark reflected.
Clark then explains further what teaching truly means to her. “Teaching is deeply meaningful to me. I hope that my commitment to my classroom and my involvement with student government help foster a strong sense of belonging for students and positively influence their growth and future aspirations.”

To add to that Clarther furthermore stated, “My students and alumni are a constant source of motivation. After more than 12 years at H-F, seeing freshmen grow and mature over their four years here is incredibly rewarding. Having former students return to visit and witnessing the remarkable paths they pursue in their adult lives continues to inspire and energize my work.”

All teachers  interviewed echoed that the students are what keep them teaching. When a teacher truly loves their job, it shows in every aspect, as seen by the candidates’ responses.

Achieving these awards is remarkable for all the teachers involved and a testament to their dedication and hard work. This accompaniment deserves recognition and should be celebrated for its positive impact on the school.