April 2019
School District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence Honors 2019 Educator and Employee of the Year Winners
Algonquin,
IL -- The School District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence announced the 2019 Distinguished Educator and Employee
of the Year at its annual awards celebration. Jesus Romero, who teaches a preschool class within Lakewood
Elementary School, and Brandann Freeman, custodian at Perry Elementary School, were presented with the awards at Pinstripes
South Barrington on April 16, 2019.
The event, which had more
than 400 attendees, honored all teachers and school employees nominated by each of District 300’s 26 schools, as well
as recipients of 2019-20 Innovation and Large Project Grants from the Foundation. Grants awarded this year totaled over $30,000.
Educator of the Year Jesus Romero: Innovative preschool teacher “pours his heart into his
work”
Romero came to District 300 from Spain 5 years ago as part of the
Visiting Teachers in the USA and Canada Program, an international exchange program supported by the Ministry of Education/Embassy
of Spain and several departments of education and school districts across the United States and Canada. Within a short time
teaching at Lakewood, and deLacey Family Education Center prior to that, Romero attained Gold status for a quality preschool
classroom through the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale and Classroom Assessment Scoring System.
The committee of Lakewood teachers and administrators who nominated Romero said he uses a variety of innovative
educational strategies, including trauma-informed practices. He leads students through yoga and meditation, for example, to
ensure they are able to focus and engage in learning. A talented guitar and ukulele player and singer, Romero also incorporates
music into lessons. He even wrote and recorded the deLacey school theme song, relating it to the school’s Positive Behavior Intervention and Support expectations. In addition, he develops
monthly “parent university” classes where family members can learn about the academic and social-emotional learning
students are doing and how they can use those strategies at home.
“Jesus
has an incredible amount of patience and dedication to helping students learn and develop. He pours his heart into his work
and always looks for ways to better meet their needs,” said Lakewood Principal Brittany Porsche.
Eberto Mora, who recruited Romero from Spain in 2014 and has continued to provide professional
support for him and the 17 other dual-language educators participating in the Spain exchange program, said seeing Romero named
Distinguished Educator of the Year was “bittersweet.” This is Romero’s last semester teaching in District
300 through the program, which last 3 years and can be extended for an additional 2 years, as Romero’s was.
“We were all happy he won, because he has been such a great asset
to the district and is so deserving of this recognition,” Mora said. “But everyone is sorry that his time in District
300 ends next month.”
Employee
of the Year Brendann Freeman: Passionate listener & problem-solver always ready to help
Brendann
Freeman, who has worked in District 300 for 15 years, was named Employee of the Year. Principal Kris Sainsbury said
Freeman works tirelessly every day to make sure every classroom is ready for learning, maintaining the building with
passion and care and serving as a positive role model for students.
“He
builds relationships with our students and is a listening ear for those who need him the most,” Sainsbury said. “During
lunch time, you will hear him having conversations about student's future and what impact school will have on their future.
When someone is in need, or comes to him with a problem, he is quick to problem-solve so that everyone is able to learn and
continue with their day. When a student is struggling with being emotionally prepared to learn, he is willing to lend
a helping hand.”
As a second job, Freeman works at Circle of Friends
in another District 300 school and also has worked for Boys and Girls Club. “This is where he developed his experience
of mentoring students and positively impacting students,” Sainsbury said. “His huge heart provides him with
the motivation to want to make a difference for kids.”
Romero
and Freeman each awarded $500.00 for their schools’ libraries, donated by Lamp Inc.
The District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence, established in 2002 by a group of community volunteers,
seeks to enhance and extend learning opportunities for all District 300 students. The Distinguished Educator of the Year award
recognizes teachers who display innovative instruction techniques to motivate learners, maximize student achievement and help
lead colleagues down the same path toward exemplary education environments.