The Downers Grove Elementary Education Association is pleased to announce the 2016 Teacher of the Year: Janette Syverson, seventh grade science teacher at O'Neill Middle School!
Congratulations, Janette! Union leaders surprised Janette with the announcement this morning during a faculty meeting.
Teacher of the Year judges selected Janette for this honor after reading an incredible nomination essay -- secretly compiled by her work colleagues -- that described Janette's countless contributions throughout her long and fulfilling career as a teacher, both in District 58 (for the past 23 years) and in her previous school districts.
This year's judges included several former Teacher of the Year winners. The group used a detailed rubric to carefully score each nomination form. The judges were very impressed with all of this year's nominees for the award!
The DGEEA congratulates and thanks all of the 2016 Teacher of the Year nominees for their dedication and service:
- Janette Syverson, seventh grade science teacher at O'Neill
- Jen Gorman, school psychologist at Kingsley and El Sierra
- Amy Kilner, seventh/eighth grade resource teacher at Herrick
- Sarah McJoynt, seventh grade reading/language arts teacher at Herrick
- Patti Cepeda, behavior specialist at District 58
- Julie Batkiewicz, fifth/sixth grade teacher at Henry Puffer
- Diane Claver, third grade teacher at El Sierra
The Teacher of the Year will be honored with this year's retirees during the Celebrate 58 banquet on Friday, May 13.