The College of Education (COE) will host the 2025 Redbird Educator Teaching Award program on Friday, April 4. Eleven teachers from across the state will be recognized during the event.
The COE annually recognizes outstanding teaching among all teacher education alumni from Illinois State University who are PK-12 teachers and faculty associates currently teaching in the ISU Laboratory Schools. The purpose of the awards is to recognize and honor teachers who have distinguished themselves as a teacher leader, who demonstrate an evidence-based commitment to students, who have positively impacted their schools and communities, and who are committed to ongoing professional growth.
Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award
Lauren Butts ‘11, M.S. ‘21, earned a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s degree in teaching and learning from Illinois State. She is a special education teacher at Bloomington High School who prioritizes creating an inclusive, supportive, and trauma-informed environment for all her students. She uses holistic, evidence-based practices to help her students work toward living successful, independent lives. As a special education case manager, she regularly collaborates across her school community to make sure all IEP goals are met. She excels at forming successful transition plans for students graduating high school, connecting them with continuing education and employment resources while teaching effective self-advocacy skills. Her unwavering commitment to Bloomington High School earned her a place on The Pantagraph’s 20 under 40 list.
Margherita (Rita) DiVita ’06, M.S. ’09, graduated with a bachelor’s in family and consumer sciences and a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Illinois State. She is a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher at Normal Community High School (NCHS). With a passion for educator retention, her solution to combating the teacher shortage is to “grow your own,” and is committed to training and building excitement in high school students looking to become teachers. She successfully implemented the McLean County Unit 5 School District’s Education Pathway Program. Students earn an official pathway seal from ISBE, an endorsement and college credit, scholarships, and early career support. She volunteers with the Illinois State University Future Teacher and Educators Rising Illinois conferences. She is an Illinois advisor for Educators Rising and has students in leadership positions for Educators Rising Illinois.
Jaclyn Hattermann ’10 earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Illinois State and a master’s degree in leadership in educational administration. She has been music educator for 15 years and serves as the general music teacher and choir director at Edison Junior High in Pekin, Illinois. Known for her unwavering passion for teaching, Hattermann creates an engaging and supportive environment where young musicians thrive. She provides students with tailored instruction, fostering growth in performance, theory, and composition through research-driven projects and hands-on learning experiences. She expanded her program by incorporating ukulele and guitar lessons and established a piano lab with 32 keyboards. Hattermann leads the Sing for St. Jude concert for the last seven years, bringing together multiple school choirs to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Emma Long-Ingram ’12, earned a bachelor’s in art education from Illinois State. She also earned a master’s in art education. She is a K-12 art educator for Lexington School District CUSD #7. In her 13th year, Long-Ingram provides a creative learning environment for all students, fostering the skills needed to ensure the creative expression of ideas and critical thinking. She is the president of the Heart of Illinois Conference Art Festival and the ArtsConnectED Central Regional Exhibition Co-Director, organizing an annual exhibition and college fair for over 200 student artists. Long-Ingram was awarded the Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA) Elementary Educator Award in 2020, earning Lexington schools IAEA Districts of Distinction status. In 2025, she received the Distinguished Service to the IAEA Award for her excellence in the field.
Stefanie McCleish ’07, earned a bachelor’s in English education from Illinois State. She also has a master’s in communication studies and a master’s in school administration. She is an English teacher at Buffalo Grove High School. In her 17th year, she is dedicated to fostering student engagement and creating inclusive learning environments. She is committed to creating a welcoming and safe classroom, supporting student literacy skills and a lifelong love of reading. A leader in her district, she is a professional learning community leader and a member of the Summit Hill District School Board. She established the “BG Connects” culture committee to build and maintain positive staff morale and combat educator burnout. For her exceptional work, she received the District 214 Outstanding Contributions to Education award in 2017 and the Penny Kittle’s Book Love Grant in 2022.
Kristin Richey ‘08, earned a bachelor’s of middle level education from Illinois State. She also has two master’s of education in reading and leadership. She is a Literacy Specialist at Westmont Junior high School. Kristin uses her 17 years of expertise to lead professional and literacy development projects, integrating educational best practices into daily instruction. She also works closely with students, assisting struggling readers with their literacy and social emotional skills. She serves on her District Leadership Team, helping to propel her school and community toward success. Richey’s efforts helped Westmont become the top-ranked middle/junior high school in DuPage County according to the ISBE Overall Index. She received the College of Education Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2016, and the Educational Administration and Foundations Spirit award in 2017, both from Illinois State.
Alumni Teacher Legacy Award
Laura Baumgardner ‘90, M.S. Ed. ‘01, received a bachelor’s in special education and a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Illinois State. She is a retired special education teacher who spent nearly all of her 33-year career at Pontiac Township High School. A National Board Certified Teacher, she advocates for including students with disabilities in all aspects of the school and community, and started the school’s Life Skills program. Pontiac was named a Special Olympics Unified Champion National Banner School under her leadership. She started the yearly Respect campaign, advocacy-centered programing to local schools, and the Run For Respect, a 5k/One Mile Fun Run raising money for Pontiac Special Olympics. Baumgardner served on the Board of Directors for Future’s Unlimited, a local not-for-profit agency providing support to people with disabilities.
Sarah Henkel ’00, M.S. ’11, earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a middle school endorsement and a master’s in history from Illinois State. She is an eighth grade Social Studies teacher at Northbrook School in Mendota. After becoming a National Board Certified Teacher in 2007, she focused on improving her teaching to help students through innovative, evidence-based teaching practices. Henkel is now working to establish Northbrook as a National Board Professional Development School and Resource Center. She was awarded an Illinois Education Association (IEA) SCORE grant to create Social Justice Lunch and Learns with state and national educators, experts, and activists. In collaboration with a colleague, she helped Mendota join Project Sidewalk, the Ruby Bridges Foundation’s Walk to School event, and received the iCivics educator certification. She developed and hosted a Day of Collaboration for middle school social studies teachers funded by an IEA Professional Development Committee Grant.
Jamie Karavouzis ’00, earned a bachelor’s in family and consumer science education from Illinois State. She is a Life Studies teacher and daycare director for Wheeling High School. Teaching for 25 years, her passion is a lifelong commitment to shaping futures and building meaningful connections in her community. She is most proud of transforming the school’s preschool center into the full-day Little Wildcat Daycare Center. While providing essential daycare services, it offers high school students supportive early teaching experiences. She piloted the Early Education Apprenticeship Program, collaborating with other educators to help future educators receive an apprenticeship certification. She works diligently to align her skills with the passions of her students, helping to facilitate pathways for their success across all industries. Karavouzis’s leadership created sustainable programs that prepare students for success within the field of education.
Tina Thomas ‘91, M.S. ‘95, earned a bachelor’s in elementary education and a masters in reading from Illinois State University. She is an English Language Development (ELD) Teacher for Stevenson Elementary School in Bloomington District 87, and has been teaching for 33 years. She is a passionate educator proud to help her students reach their highest potential. Thomas goes above and beyond to ensure her students’ overall well-being during and beyond the school day. At Stevenson, she has been part of the Equity and Diversity Committee and the Family and Community Engagement Committee, the District Leadership Team, and ELD/Special Education Taskforce. She is a member of the Promise Council at Stevenson, organizing support for students and families in need, helping them to focus on their education. Thomas is a cooperating teacher for clinical placements and student teachers from Illinois State.
Laboratory Schools Teacher of the Year
Crystal Patterson ‘89, M.S. Ed. ‘20, earned a bachelor’s in elementary education and a master’s in teaching and learning from Illinois State. She is a 3rd and 4th grade social studies and ELA teacher at Thomas Metcalf Laboratory School and has been teaching for 18 years. She is currently piloting a looping program for 3rd and 4th grade students with departmentalized classrooms, allowing her to build long-term relationships with her students. Patterson prides herself on supporting her students as young readers and inspiring a love of learning. She guest lectures in Illinois State’s Reading Assessment course to share these skills with future educators. Since 2015, she traveled to Haiti six times to teach lessons and provide aid to orphaned children. She wrote lesson plans which were translated to Creole and distributed to multiple schools in Haiti.