Reflections From Exemplary Educators About Teaching in COVID: A Conversation With NLU Alumnae 2021 Illinois Regional Teachers of the Year
This final webinar of 2020 facilitated by Sherri Bressman, Director of Teacher Preparation programs, features NCE alumnae recognized by ISBE as 2021 Illinois Regional Teachers of the Year. Kathleen Duffy, North Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year, Precious Allen, Cook County co-Regional Teacher of the Year, and Veronica Rodriguez, Bilingual Teacher of the Year, share insights and reflections on the challenges of teaching during a pandemic and what exemplary teaching looks like in e-Learning contexts.
View a recording of the Reflections from Exemplary Educators webinar
Panelists:
Precious Allen (B.A., '10 in Elementary Education; M.Ed., '14 in Reading; Ed.S. candidate in Educational Leadership)
Elementary teacher @Betty Shabazz International Charter School, Chicago, IL
Precious Allen is an elementary school teacher that thrives on introducing her students to global experiences and STEM careers. She is a published international children's book author and was recently recognized as a Finalist for Illinois State Teacher of the Year. She has accepted an invitation to participate in a fellowship for Teach Plus where she can use her voice to advocate for the rights of students and work to elevate the profession of education through educational reform. Website: https://preciousallentheauthor.com/
Kathleen Duffy (M.A.T., '10 in Secondary Education; Ed.S., '20 in Educational Leadership)
Social Studies Teacher @Barrington High School, Barrington Community Unit School District 220
Kathleen Duffy is in her 9th year of teaching Social Studies at Barrington High School (BHS). Currently, she teaches AP World History and Global Studies Honors. She serves as a leader for the BHS Equity Team as well as a leader on the District Social-emotional Learning Committee, the Literacy Cohort, and BHS Building Council. In addition, Duffy sponsors Unsilence, a student organization, and acts as a liaison to the community organization, Courageous Conversations. Duffy, also, serves on the Executive Committee for the Midwest World History Association, an IEA Leader for Just Schools, and is a TEACH PLUS Fellow. Outside of education, Duffy is a lifelong learner, an avid reader, a softball & volleyball coach (former college athlete), a theme-parker, & a family person. She enjoys traveling to learn about new cultures, history, & cuisines.
Veronica Rodriguez (M.Ed., '12 in Curriculum and Instruction)
4th- Grade Spanish Dual Language teacher @Juliette Low School in Arlington Heights, IL
Veronica Rodriguez was named the state's first 2021 Bilingual Teacher of the Year. She has been teaching for 14 years and is currently a 4th- Grade Spanish Dual Language teacher at Juliette Low School in Arlington Heights, IL. She holds a BA in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish from DePaul University. She received her MA in Curriculum and Instruction with a Bilingual/ESL endorsement from National Louis University. Veronica started a website www.21stcenturymaestra.com to help empower teachers to lead their classrooms with a bilingual, bi-literate, and bicultural mindset.
