Awarded annually, the Excellence in Education Awards honor excellent teachers, administrators, and support staff in DeKalb County. Created in 1999 through the generosity of Yvonne Johnson, retired elementary school teacher in the Sycamore School District, the DeKalb County Excellence in Education Award Fund provides the opportunity to highlight those who are making a positive difference in our schools. Recipients receive $1,000, an engraved clock, and medallion.

The 2000-2014 Excellence in Education recipients in each of the five categories are:

2000

• Administration: Emmert Dannenberg, Somonauk
• Support Staff: Mary Ann Ehmke, Somonauk
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Beverly Bentley, Hiawatha
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Diane Parness, Hiawatha
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Connie Worden, Hiawatha

2001

• Administration: Mary Fasbender, Sycamore
• Support Staff: Gloria Cook, Somonauk
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Margo Sickele, DeKalb
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Carol A. Murphy, Hiawatha
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Matthew Wilson, Somonauk

2002

• Administration: Susan Workman, Somonauk
• Support Staff: Terri Blackmer, Hiawatha
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Deborah Rehn, Hiawatha
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Byron Cann, Hiawatha
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Charles Hickey, Somonauk

2003

• Administration: Robert Hammon, Sycamore
• Support Staff: Carol Johnson, Hiawatha
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Lynda Zuege, Somonauk
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Todd Johnson, Hiawatha
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Jennifer Hadick, Hiawatha

2004

• Administration: Carol Koenig, Somonauk
• Support Staff: Mary Plante, Somonauk
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Nancy Leifheit, Sycamore
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Andi Andree, Sycamore
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Renee Nelson, Somonauk

2005

• Support Staff: Sharon Blake, DeKalb
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Gale Horn, DeKalb
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Anne Rubendall, Sycamore
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Kris Humes, Somonauk

2006

• Administration: Don Billington, Genoa-Kingston
• Support Staff: Richard Wade, Genoa-Kingston
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Judith Schrock, Sycamore
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Joann Burton, Indian Creek
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Marcia Hitchins, Somonauk

2007

• Administration: Luke Glowiak, Sycamore
• Support Staff: Lisa Lee, Somonauk
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: William Moris, Somonauk
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Becky Steczo, Sycamore
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Carol Heck, Indian Creek

2008

• Administration: Kathy Watkins, KEC
• Support Staff: Lois Sondgeroth, Sandwich
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Connie Wood, Hiawatha
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Rebecca Mattison, Hiawatha
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Jan Kuntz, Indian Creek

2009

• Administration: Scott Wakeley, Genoa-Kingston
• Support Staff: Sandy Rueff, Indian Creek
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Kim Sparrow, Hiawatha
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Mary Kay Kavanaugh, Somonauk
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Jared Poynter, Hiawatha

2010

• Administration: Justin Snider, Somonauk
• Support Staff: Karen Keneway, Hiawatha
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Marti Brown, DeKalb
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Penny Damiani, Hiawatha
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Christine Corn, Hiawatha

2011

• Administration: Rick Schmitt, Sandwich
• Support Staff: Dawn Graves, Sycamore
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Angela Messenger, Hiawatha
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Amanda Taxis, Somonauk
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Kathryn Dombek, Sycamore

2012

• Administration: Tim Carlson, Sycamore
• Support Staff: Stephanie Forsberg, Sycamore
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Fran Kenyon, Somonauk
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Elizabeth Ness, Somonauk
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Daniel Mitchell, Hiawatha

2013

• Administration: Thomas Sodaro, Sandwich
• Support Staff: Wendy Kuryliw, DeKalb
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Jennifer Parsons, Sycamore
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Carol Vest, DeKalb
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Kara Poynter, Sycamore

2014

• Administration: Kathy Countryman, Sycamore
• Support Staff: Dave Huntsman, Hiawatha
• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Linda Tyrrell, DeKalb
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Anna Zantout, Sycamore
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Rich Majerus, Sycamore

For questions or more information, please contact Community Foundation Grants Director Tiffany McQueen Lewis at 815-748-5383 or tiffany@dekalbccf.org.