Two Libertyville High School Teachers Receive Awards

Libertyville High School English Teachers Anne Singleton and Rebecca Kinnee have been named co-recipients of the Outstanding General Education Teacher of the Year Award from the Illinois Council for Exceptional Children (ICEC). They will be honored and receive their award at a ceremony held during the 2012 ICEC Fall Convention on Nov. 3 in Lisle. 

The Outstanding General Education Teacher of the Year Award recognizes a general education teacher certified by Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in the state of Illinois, who has shown exemplary performance in directly providing educational services to students with exceptional learning challenges or behavioral disorders.

“LHS has a long history of co-teaching, but Anne and Becky have taken it to a new level,” noted Special Services Department Supervisor Kathy Colon, who nominated them for the award. “They break down reading and writing—the most difficult tasks for majority of our students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP)—into small, successful units. They provide organizational calendars that assist the students and the case managers, and they cruise the classrooms giving meaningful feedback.”

“When you go into their classrooms, you see students working together in teams. Students are writing and posters are all over the walls. There is often a line taped to the floor or walls to graphically represent a story plot line,” explained Colon.  “These students tackle the same curriculum as the college prep level courses and are successful because of the support that Anne and Becky provide.” Colon noted that Singleton and Kinnee are available for students before school, after school and when they are on hall duty.

“I am honored to know them and honored to nominate them for this award,” said Colon. “They are great teachers who raise the bar on instruction every day for students with and without disabilities."

- Community High School District 128 provided this information.