West40 Area Educators Honored for their Contributions to Schools

West40 congratulates all of the teachers, administrators, and support staff recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education in this year’s Those Who Excel & Teacher of The Year Awards, including dozens of school employees from West Cook County.

Among those recognized was Illinois’ 2025 Teacher of the Year Victor Gomez of East Leyden High School. Gomez is a science teacher who co-developed East Leyden’s bilingual program and helped launch its first bilingual chemistry course.

Victor Gomez (Courtesy Leyden Dist. 212)

“Victor is a phenomenal educator who can inspire students to love science at the high school level, including those who did not envision themselves taking interest or finding success in science,” said principal Dr. Julie Lam.

Gomez will begin a state-funded one year sabbatical in July, where he will represent Illinois in the National Teacher of the Year program sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers.

The annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards celebrates educators who go above and beyond to make positive impacts in their school communities. A list of awardees from the West40 area can be seen below.

Cicero SD 99

Elana Gordon, Student Support Personnel, Award of Excellence

Elmwood Park CUSD 401

Aaron Celmer, School Administrator, Award of Special Recognition

Annina Meacham, Classroom Teacher, Award of Meritorious Service

John Mills MTSS Team, Team, Award of Special Recognition

Roxanne Rickenbrode, Classroom Teacher, Award of Excellence

JS Morton HSD 201

Amanda Torres, School Administrator, Award of Special Recognition

Justin Chang, Classroom Teacher, Award of Excellence

Robert Gordon, Educational Service Personnel, Award of Excellence

Brenda Lopez, Classroom Teacher, Award of Meritorious Service

Culinary Arts Program, Team, Award of Meritorious Service

Gabriel Villanueva, Student Support Personnel, Award of Excellence

LaGrange SD 105 South

Joanna Marek, Student Support Personnel, Award of Excellence

Rachel Skala, School Administrator, Award of Excellence

Darcey Denton, Educational Service Personnel, Award of Special Recognition

Leyden CHSD 212

Eric McFadden, Classroom Teacher, Award of Special Recognition

Teagan Lyke, Early Career Educator, Award of Excellence

Victor Gomez, Cook County Co-Regional Teacher of the Year

Lyons Township HSD 204

Dr. Jennifer Tyrrell, School Administrator, Award of Meritorious Service

LT Equity Ambassador Team, Team, Award of Meritorious Service

Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview 89

Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports Team, Team, Award of Special Recognition

Oak Park ESD 97

Adam Bautista, Classroom Teacher, Award of Special Recognition

Eric Podlasek, Classroom Teacher, Award of Excellence

James Hayward, Classroom Teacher, Award of Special Recognition

Jennifer Baldassarre, Classroom Teacher, Award of Meritorious Service

Jennifer Orrico, Student Support Personnel, Award of Special Recognition

Proviso Township HSD 209

Danielle English-Jones, Classroom Teacher, Award of Meritorious Service

River Grove SD 85.5

Jessica Howard, Classroom Teacher, Award of Special Recognition

Riverside-Brookfield Township SD 208

Sandra Czajka, Classroom Teacher, Award of Meritorious Service