Redbird Educator Teaching Awards

Kara Barling, Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award

Kara Barling ‘12, M.S. ‘23 earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in agriculture education and leadership at Illinois State University. Kara is an agricultural teacher at Heyworth High School. During her tenure, she has increased program enrollment by approximately 40% and expanded offerings to include 8th grade Exploratory Agriculture and two dual credit courses through Heartland Community College.

She has developed innovative coursework, including an applied Ag Physics unit focused on simple machines in agriculture. Under her leadership, students have achieved 18 State FFA Degrees, three American Degrees, one American Star in Agribusiness nominee, and 11 State Proficiency Award finalists.

In the last year, Kara’s FFA chapter dedicated over 340 community service hours to local organizations, and raised over $2,000 and collected over 600 pounds of food for the local food bank.

Kara co-authored research with Dr. Jay Solomonson at Illinois State examining work-life integration in agricultural education. She frequently presents professional development workshops on topics such as Supervised Agricultural Experiences, supporting IEP and 504 students, and integrating soft skills aligned with College and Career Readiness standards.

Kara mentors early career agriculture teachers and pre-service teachers, serves on the Illinois State University Agricultural Education Advisory Council, and supports student teacher placement efforts.

In 2026, Kara earned the Section 9 Golden Owl Teacher of the Year Award for McLean/Livingston counties, and in 2025, received the Outstanding Middle/Secondary Agriculture Program of the Year Award from the Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers (IAVAT). She serves as IAVAT Member Services Chair/Co-Chair.

Jacqueline Finley,  Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award

Jacqueline Finley ‘14 earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics education from Illinois State University. She also has a master’s degree in mathematics, an endorsement in computer science, and an Ed.S. in school administration. She currently teaches mathematics at Argo Community High School.

For 12 years, Jacqueline has been committed to creating a classroom environment where students feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to grow. She teaches courses ranging from advanced mathematics to applied courses like Smart Money, where students explore financial literacy and learn how mathematics plays a role in real-world decision making. Through these different courses, Jacqueline helps students see the relevance of mathematics in everyday life while strengthening their problem solving and reasoning skills.

Jacqueline actively contributes to her school’s professional learning community by collaborating with colleagues to develop engaging lessons, sharing instructional strategies, and analyzing student learning data to improve overall outcomes. She writes the Ms. Pi 4 Ever blog sharing suggestions, strategies, and resources for math education with fellow teachers.

She has served as a mentor for new teachers, offering guidance on lesson planning, classroom management, and professional growth. Her willingness to share ideas and support colleagues has made her a valued member of her school community.

Jacqueline was named Most Influential Teacher in 2025 and nominated for Teacher of the Year in both 2024 and 2025, in her school district.

Emily Knoeppel, Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award

Emily Knoeppel ‘14 earned a bachelor’s degree in special education—deaf and hard of hearing  from Illinois State University. She also has a master’s degree in educational leadership. Emily has dedicated her career to supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing students while promoting greater awareness and appreciation of Deaf culture in schools and communities. She currently teaches American Sign Language (ASL) at Evanston Township High School, where she works with students from a wide range of backgrounds and interests.

Over the past 12 years, Emily has worked with students from preschool through high school, providing specialized instruction and advocating for accessible learning environments. Earlier in her career as a Teacher of the Deaf, Emily helped create inclusive opportunities for students and families by organizing sign language clubs, community events, and field trips that strengthened connections between students, families, and the Deaf community.

In her current role teaching American Sign Language, Emily introduces as many as 150 students each year to ASL and Deaf culture. She also sponsors a sign language club and organizes field trips to places such as the Illinois School for the Deaf and universities with Deaf education programs, helping students better understand communication accessibility and potential career paths in fields such as interpreting, speech-language pathology, and education.

Emily is passionate about advocacy, mentorship, and collaboration. She regularly shares her expertise with colleagues, mentors students interested in education-related careers, and works to create inclusive learning environments where all students feel valued and supported.

Tom Ponce, Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award

Tom Ponce ‘09 earned bachelor’s degrees in history education and political science from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in educational leadership. With more than 15 years in education, Tom has dedicated his career to serving diverse student communities across the Southwest and Colorado, focusing on literacy development, student identity, and equitable access to educational opportunities.

Tom began his teaching career as a member of Teach for America, serving near the Navajo Nation at Chief Manuelito Middle School in Gallup, New Mexico. During his time there, he helped students achieve significant academic growth in reading and created opportunities for engagement, including organizing the school’s first trip to Washington, D.C. He later helped found South Valley Academy Middle School in Albuquerque, where he designed a humanities curriculum that reflected the culture and history of the local community while fostering a love of reading and writing.

After relocating to Denver, Tom continued his work supporting students and teachers in a variety of leadership roles, including English Language Development teacher, instructional leader, and Director of Teacher Leadership with Teach for America. In that role, he coached dozens of educators and helped develop professional development programming that strengthened teacher retention and instructional practice.

Tom currently teaches 8th grade Language Arts at St. Mary’s Academy in Englewood, Colorado, where he designs engaging curriculum centered on literature, social justice, and student voice. Throughout his career, he has mentored new teachers, built innovative curriculum, and helped thousands of students develop the skills and confidence to succeed both academically and personally.

Amanda Reich, Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award

Amanda Reich ‘13, earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Illinois State University. Amanda has spent more than a decade building a classroom environment where students feel supported, challenged, and inspired to learn. She currently teaches fourth grade in the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas, where her passion for education and commitment to student success have made a lasting impact on both her school and community.

Amanda began her teaching career as a one-on-one aide supporting a fourth-grade student before moving into a classroom teaching role. Since joining Hatchett Elementary School, she has taught multiple grade levels including kindergarten, third, and fourth grade, continually adapting her instruction to meet students’ diverse needs. Her dedication to teaching excellence earned her Hatchett Elementary’s Educator of the Year in both 2019–2020 and 2025–2026.

Amanda is known for designing creative and engaging learning experiences that make academic content memorable and enjoyable for her students. She developed fun and innovative review activities and classroom experiences that helped students strengthen and grow their literacy and language skills while preparing for assessments in supportive and motivating ways. Additionally, Amanda serves as a team leader and collaborates with colleagues to improve instruction and support student success.

Amanda is committed to mentoring future educators and has welcomed student teachers into her classroom guiding them through lesson planning and classroom strategies. She also sponsors several student activities including Student Council and Solar Cars Club and supports Girls on the Run.

Randie-Lynn Reynolds, Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award

Randie-Lynn Reynolds‘13 earned a bachelor’s degree in history and social sciences education from Illinois State University and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership. Randie-Lynn is a social studies teacher and instructional coach at Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa, Illinois. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher.

Randie-Lynn is passionate about civic education and creating learning experiences that encourage students to think critically about their role in society. As a government teacher, she helps students explore the foundations of democracy and develop confidence in their ability to participate in civic life.

She is a member of the Democracy School Network where she works to maintain her school’s distinction as an Illinois Democracy school. Through this program, she has helped hundreds of students become registered voters and election judges and has taken students to vote in elections.

Randie-Lynn serves as an instructional coach, supporting teachers as they develop engaging and rigorous lessons that improve student learning. She collaborates with her fellow coaches on the school’s new teacher mentorship program. They design and implement four new teacher professional development retreats each school year. She is also a lead mentor for new teachers in her school. She is part of the AI cohort working to create a framework for using AI in classrooms and creating district policy on the use of AI for students and staff.

Sarah Rogers ,Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award

Sarah Rogers ’07 earned a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences teacher education from Illinois State University and completed a master’s in education from the University of Washington. Sarah is currently a ninth-grade environmental science teacher at Golder College Prep in Chicago. 

Sarah is known for creating an engaging and rigorous classroom environment where students are encouraged to think critically about environmental issues and their role in protecting the planet. Her instruction emphasizes real-world applications of science, data analysis, and inquiry-based learning, helping students develop both academic skills and a strong scientific identity. Through her thoughtful teaching and supportive classroom culture, Sarah inspires students to see themselves as capable scientists and problem solvers.

In 2020, she was named a Distinguished Teacher within the Noble Network of Charter Schools, an honor awarded to the top educators in the network. Sarah regularly leads professional development sessions for colleagues, and developed an environmental science curriculum that was adopted across all of high schools in the network. She was the first to introduce phenomena-based learning in science and now shares her resources network-wide.

She mentors early-career teachers through the Golden Apple Foundation and collaborates with colleagues to strengthen science instruction across schools. She has advised many student groups and hosts an Awareness Fair where students create and present projects about an environmental topic from the school year that they are passionate about.

Sofia Salinas, Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award

Sofia Salinas ’11 earned a bachelor’s degree in bilingual elementary education from Illinois State University (ISU) and completed a master’s degree in literacy education. She is a seventh and eighth grade bilingual language arts teacher at Little Village Elementary School in Chicago Public Schools.

Sofia is passionate about creating a classroom environment where students feel valued, heard, and confident in expressing their ideas. Her teaching focuses on helping students develop strong literacy skills while also encouraging them to explore their identities and experiences through reading and writing.

Sofia plays an active role in supporting bilingual initiatives within her school. She collaborates with colleagues to strengthen instruction for multilingual learners and supports exemplary learning experiences through her school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

She recently helped students organize a protest that was well received by many school officials. Following, she was asked to be a keynote speaker at Steppenwolf Theatre for an 826Chi event and brought along a few of her students to read their protest speeches.

She teaches classes for the Teach Chicago Tomorrow program with Illinois State, and has served as the bridge between ISU’s bilingual and special education programs and her school for many years. She is a mentor for the Educator Alumni Mentor Program hosted by the College of Education at ISU and has supported many high school students who want to become teachers.

In 2020, she was a Golden Apple Teacher of Excellence finalist. In 2023, she represented her school in Washington, D.C. to accept an award as a National School to Watch.

Amy Dabler, Alumni Teacher Legacy Award

Amy Dabler ’97 earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Illinois State University. Amy has dedicated more than 27 years to education and is a sixth-grade social studies teacher and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) coach at Kingsley Junior High School.

Throughout her career, Amy has focused on creating inclusive and engaging learning environments where every student feels supported, challenged, and valued. Her teaching emphasizes building strong relationships with students while helping them develop critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills. By using evidence-based instructional practices and learning strategies, Amy works to ensure that all students can access meaningful learning experiences and grow in confidence as student learners.

Serving on the Building Leadership Team and PBIS team before becoming the Tier 1 Coach, she now helps guide schoolwide efforts to strengthen positive behavior supports and foster a collaborative school culture. She has also contributed to multiple district task forces focusing on curriculum, assessment, and instructional improvement across grade levels.

Mentoring future educators is one of Amy’s greatest passions. For more than two decades, she has welcomed student teachers and clinical students into her classroom, modeling effective teaching practices while helping aspiring educators build confidence and professional skills. Many of the educators she has mentored have gone on to become successful teachers and school leaders.

Through her dedication to teaching, mentorship, and leadership, Amy continues to make a meaningful impact on students, colleagues, and the education community.

Loni Fazio (Grossklaus), Alumni Teacher Legacy Award

Loni Fazio (Grossklaus) ‘06 earned a bachelor’s degree in middle level education from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a Teacher Leader endorsement. She is a sixth-grade teacher at Thayer J. Hill Middle School in Naperville.

For 20 years, Loni has been passionate about helping students grow both academically and personally, and works to ensure every student feels valued and supported during their middle school years.

She has contributed to English language arts curriculum development and has served as an ambassador for social-emotional learning initiatives within her school. Loni also shares her expertise with other educators by presenting at conferences and professional development sessions focused on topics such as response to intervention and student support strategies. In addition, she has been recognized by the Naperville Patch Teacher Spotlight for being “one of the most thoughtful people.”

For over 12 years, Loni has been a representative on her district’s education association, and serves at the state and national levels. She also mentors new teachers in her district and for the Illinois Education Association.

Loni sponsors several student organizations, including Kiwanis Builders Club, a service-focused group that connects students with community projects and encourages leadership through service. She also co-sponsors the Yearbook Club, and Opportunity Group, an organization at Hill Middle School that encourages low-achieving students by helping them build confidence, raise their grades, and showcase their various talents. Along with sponsoring the clubs, she has assisted with organizing Family Movie Nights, Toys for Tots collections, and Glow Runs to strengthen school-family-community partnerships.

Laura Rogan, Alumni Teacher Legacy Award

Laura Rogan ‘90 earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Illinois State University and also has a master’s degree in education. Laura has dedicated 33 years to teaching at Round Lake Middle School in Round Lake Heights, Illinois where she is an eighth-grade English Language Arts teacher.

Laura has built a reputation as a compassionate educator who consistently advocates for students and works tirelessly to ensure they feel supported both academically and personally.

Laura teaches in a district that serves many students facing significant social and economic challenges, and she approaches her work with the belief that strong relationships are the foundation of effective teaching. By building trust and maintaining high expectations, Laura helps students grow as readers, writers, and confident learners. Her classroom emphasizes encouragement, perseverance, and a strong sense of belonging, ensuring students feel valued and capable of success.

Throughout her career, Laura has taken on numerous leadership roles within her school and district. She has served as a team leader, mentor teacher, department chair, and member of multiple curriculum and school improvement committees. Colleagues frequently seek her guidance, and she has played an important role in mentoring new teachers and supporting fellow educators through challenges in the profession.

Laura regularly volunteers at school events, supports extracurricular activities, and works to ensure students’ needs are met both inside and outside the classroom. Through her dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to students, Laura has made a lasting impact on generations of learners.

Laura Thomas, Alumni Teacher Legacy Award

Laura Thomas ’91 earned a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences education from Illinois State University and has a master’s degree in teaching and leadership. Laura is a family and consumer sciences teacher and department chair at Normal Community High School.

Throughout her 30-year career, Laura has been committed to helping students develop practical life skills while preparing them for success beyond high school. Laura’s classroom environment emphasizes relationships, collaboration, and personal growth, helping students build confidence while developing the skills they need for adulthood.

Since 2006, she has served as the department chair and the teachers in her department consistently remain in their roles due to her leadership. She has also contributed to district curriculum and assessment task forces and has been involved in piloting and implementing new grading practices within her school.

Laura is especially passionate about mentoring future educators. For 18 years, she has been a cooperating teacher for teacher candidates participating in the Professional Development Intern program at Illinois State. She also worked on a team that designed the education pathway program at Normal Community and taught the Educating Young Children class. She is proud that several of her former students now teach in the district.

Through her dedication to students, leadership among colleagues, and commitment to mentoring future teachers, Laura continues to make a lasting impact on her school community and the field of education.

Anthony Zoubek, Alumni Teacher Legacy Award

Anthony Zoubek ‘02, ‘05, earned Bachelor’s degrees in Mass Communication (Journalism and Cinema Studies) and Speech Communication Education from Illinois State University, and a Master of English Studies degree (Literature and Rhetoric) from Elmhurst University. He is a high school English Language Arts teacher in Colorado and an adjunct professor at Colorado State University Pueblo.

With over 20 years in education, Anthony is known for creating hands-on learning experiences. He challenges students to analyze and explore literature and media, develop their voices as effective communicators, and ready themselves for college, careers, and civic life. He also built one of Illinois’ most successful high school forensics programs. The Chicago Daily Herald named Anthony one of the “Top Five Teachers in the Suburbs.” 

Anthony leads teacher professional development, curriculum development, and policy advocacy. Collaborating with colleagues and legislators, Anthony co-wrote a law that added speech-debate to the Illinois School Code, making forensics a requisite elective applicable toward high school graduation. Governor J.B. Pritzker referred to this reform as “one of the most important laws passed” during its legislative session, while the Illinois Education Association declared Anthony “a force to be reckoned with.”

His recognitions include Forensics Coach of the Year (Special Commission on Tournaments — Individual Events), Distinguished Educator of the Year (Kane County Regional Office of Education), the Jerry Mathis Outstanding Young Teacher of the Year Award (Illinois Communication and Theatre Association), the Edith Harrod Lifetime Achievement Award (ICTA), and National Coach of Superior Distinction (National Speech and Debate Association).

Paulina Dabrowska, Laboratory Schools Teacher of the Year

Paulina Dabrowska earned a bachelor’s degree in English from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is currently completing a master’s in English Education at Illinois State University (ISU) with her research focused on strengthening students’ literacy skills through a weekly workshop model.  

Paulina teaches courses including Experiencing Literature, Journalism, and AP Literature at University High School. Her classroom emphasizes creativity, discussion, and authentic learning opportunities that allow students to explore ideas while strengthening their reading and writing skills.

Paulina is proud of her dedication to creating learning experiences that bring student voices outside of the classroom. She guides journalism and yearbook students through the process of producing school publications for The Clarion and The Clarionette, and she plans multiple experiential learning opportunities each year. Her AP Literature students perform public poetry readings at a local coffee shop, all of whom scored a 3 or higher on their AP exams last year. She organized a mock trial after her students read Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Live in the Castle and hosted an award ceremony for student film adaptations of Shakespeare plays.

She also partnered with ISU English Department for her students to engage with Paula Yoo, a young adult nonfiction author, and took students to the WGLT studio to learn more about local and national media from experts in the field. At U-High, she works closely with colleagues through professional learning communities and participates in initiatives focused on improving overall teaching and learning. She also mentors and hosts aspiring educators from Illinois State University helping them gain practical, hands-on classroom experience while developing their teaching skills.