Eight individuals from District 97 have earned awards in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education’s "Teacher of the Year" and "Those Who Excel" recognition program: Natalie Campbell and Nicole Grant (Whittier), Melissa De Jesus-Vasquez (Irving), John Hodge (Irving), Ashley Kannan (Julian), Nicole Pines and Elyse Smith (Mann) and Lee-Ann Roskopf (Lincoln). Kannan, a humanities teacher at Julian Middle School, was named a Regional Teacher of the Year for Cook County and is a finalist for the State Teacher of the Year, the state’s highest professional honor.
The Teacher of the Year and Those Who Excel programs recognize teachers, administrators, school support personnel and volunteers from across the state of Illinois for their extraordinary contributions in education.
"On behalf of District 97, we want to congratulate and thank this exceptional group," said Co-Interim Superintendents Griff Powell and Patricia Wernet. "Throughout the pandemic, each of our winners has been steadfast in their commitment to our students and families. Their expertise, enthusiasm and work ethic have made a profound impact on our schools, and it brings us great joy to see them recognized at the state level.”
ISBE will recognize all its Teacher of the Year and Those Who Excel awardees at a banquet this summer. The Teacher of the Year award winner will be announced later this spring. Details about each winner are included below.
Teacher of the Year
Since 1970, ISBE has sponsored the Illinois Teacher of the Year program, recognizing the best of the teaching profession in Illinois. All public and nonpublic preK-12 educators in Illinois with more than five years of teaching experience are eligible. The top nominees from eight regions are designated as Regional Teachers of the Year; the Illinois Teacher of the Year is selected from that cohort. ISBE also recognizes Bilingual, Early Childhood, and Special Education Teachers of the Year. The Outstanding Early Career Educator award is presented to the top teacher in Illinois with one-four years of teaching experience. Remaining nominees are awarded on two levels: Meritorious Service and Special Recognition.
2022 Cook County Co-Teacher of the Year
Ashley Kannan, Humanities Teacher, Julian Middle School
Ashley Kannan is a humanities teacher at Julian Middle School, where he has taught for more than 20 years. He also serves as the girls basketball coach and sponsors Rainbow Tribe, a safe space for LGBTQIA+ students.
Ashley has contributed significantly to our district’s vision for inclusion and equity. He has served on the district’s PERA Joint Committee, Equity Systems Design Team, National Equity Project Teacher Inquiry Team, and—most recently—our Superintendent Advisory Panel to create a safe and equitable back-to-school plan for 2021. One of the contributions he made as a result of his service on the district’s Equity Systems Design Team was his creation of District 97’s first ever African-American Studies course, which he piloted during the 2020-21 school year.
“Mr. Kannan is a master teacher and a coach, both in his classroom or on the basketball court with the students. He is willing to help any student who needs assistance, whether they have him for a teacher, a coach, or simply just attends the school where he works. He designs his lessons so students can engage in meaningful discussions about the content, making sure they understand key universal truths that all of us teach our children, and how common content elements enrich the lives of our students. His main goal has always been to serve the unique needs of each and every student attending Julian.”
Those Who Excel
The "Those Who Excel" program annually honors individuals that make a difference in students' lives and contribute positively to the culture of the school district in which they serve. Awards are presented in five categories: Administrator, Team, Community Volunteer, Student Support Personnel and Educational Service Personnel. Nominations are scored by a panel of judges and awarded on three levels: Award of Excellence, Award of Meritorious Service and Award of Recognition.
Awards of Excellence
John Hodge, Principal, Irving Elementary School
Category: Administrator
John Hodge has been the principal of Irving Elementary School for 18 years. He will retire this June after 31 years of service in District 97.
“We have seen first-hand how John’s leadership has positively influenced every facet of the Irving community. He is caring, compassionate, and deeply committed to making his school more equitable and inclusive for the students it serves ... It’s difficult to imagine what Irving Elementary School will be like without him, but we are confident that the profound impact he has had on his students, staff and families will endure long after his departure.”
Lee-Ann Roskopf, Lincoln Administrative Assistant 
Category: Educational Service Personnel
Lee-Ann Roskopf is an administrative assistant at Lincoln Elementary School, where she has worked since 2011.
“As an administrative assistant, [Lee-Ann’s] work many times could be taken for granted. But, her hard work is indispensable to the wellbeing of our children ... With a school of over 600 students, I am always amazed by how she is able to call students by their name, showing a level of respect and personalization during each encounter. She is present to kindly welcome nervous kindergarteners on their first day of school, and returning students know they will get a warm and familiar “welcome back” after a long summer break. It is just refreshing to know that she is there, for us and for our children.”
Melissa De Jesus-Vasquez, Irving Parent
Category: Community Volunteer
Melissa De Jesus-Vasquez is a parent volunteer at Irving Elementary School, where she has two daughters, one in third grade and one in fifth grade.
“Melissa seems to know when there is a need before it is apparent, and her impulse is always to step forward and find solutions. She creates energy and enthusiasm around her, brings people into the fold, and constantly enhances the work of any team. Melissa finds solutions, she empowers others, and is never afraid to just get it done herself. She creates events and support systems in the neighborhood for young and old alike. She finds roles that need to be filled and takes them on herself. She organizes, enhances, and leads fundraisers and events for the entire school. She does all of this selflessly, generously, gladly. Our school and our community excel, because we have Melissa De Jesus-Vasquez fighting in our corner.”
Award of Meritorious Service
Nicole Grant and Natalie Campbell, Whittier Co-Teachers
Category: Team
Natalie Campbell and Nicole Grant co-teach kindergarten at Whittier Elementary School.
“Mmes. Campbell’s and Grant’s combination of intellectual abilities and passion for children and instructional skills comes "packaged" in a rare, wonderfully friendly, sincere and caring team of educators. They are considerate, flexible, respected and respond well to constructive feedback from administration, staff, students, and community members. Both teachers are consistently looking to improve and grow as educators and human beings. Mmes. Campbell and Grant are admired by colleagues, peers, students and community stakeholders alike. Teachers, students, and families consistently seek advice from both of them on both professional and personal matters due to the trust and respect they have developed within the district. They have effectively managed to build trusting relationships and to work well with teachers, students, parents, and the Oak Park community to make academic excellence and joy of learning foremost.”
Elyse Smith and Nicole Pines, Mann Co-Teachers
Category: Team
Nicole Pines and Elyse Smith co-teach kindergarten at Mann Elementary School.
“Watching these two individuals partner together is truly a beautiful sight to see. Nicole and Elyse work in unison as they create a classroom environment where students are accepted, challenged academically, and begin learning skills that will be vital for their social emotional development. In addition, Nicole and Elyse contribute in areas that help our school function and thrive which supports ALL our students at Mann. Lastly, they have collaborated with outside agencies to support Oak Park and neighboring communities.”