Outstanding Young Alumni

Annie Burke

Annie Burke ’20 earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Illinois State University. She also earned a master’s in educational leadership. She currently teaches second grade at Mary Morgan Elementary School in Byron, Illinois. Known for her dedication to student success, Annie adapts her teaching to meet the diverse needs of her classroom, ensuring every student feels valued and inspired to learn. A committed leader, she organized Family Bingo Night, an event that has engaged over 600 participants in just two years to promote literacy and celebrate student achievement. Annie also serves on the district’s leadership team and contributes to a positive school culture as part of the social committee. Her passion for education and holistic student support earned her the 2024 ISBE Those Who Excel Early Career Educator Award, recognizing her impactful contributions both in and beyond the classroom.

Jessica Ochoa

Jessica Ochoa ’23 earned a bachelor’s degree in bilingual/bicultural elementary education from Illinois State. She is a first-grade dual language teacher at Champaign Unit 4’s International Prep Academy and is deeply committed to advancing dual language education. In her first year, she joined the Teaching and Learning Committee to research and pilot inclusive teaching practices. Her team’s findings, aimed at improving accessibility and success for multilingual learners, were presented to staff and widely adopted across the school. For this impactful work, Jessica received the Early Childhood Emerging Professional Award from Illinois Public Media.

She also attended the AVID Summer Institute to share her strategies with educators beyond her district. Jessica serves on the school’s social committee, represents her grade level at council meetings, and participates in hiring processes. She also co-leads a K–2 after-school Spanish club, nurturing bilingualism and cultural interest among young learners.