Downers Grove South Teacher Earns State Award

Downers Grove South teacher Patrick Fardy will be honored this week with an Exemplary Teacher Recognition Award from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Fardy, a career and technical education teacher at South High, is one of 36 educators who were recognized Tuesday at the annual ISBE award luncheon in Springfield, which is co-sponsored by the Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

The Exemplary Teacher Recognition program honors those teachers who have been singled out as being the best in the field of expertise by their respective education organizations. 

"This is really meant to recognize the content area experts who have been chosen by their peers for their dedication to students and their specific area of expertise," ISBE Superintendent Christopher Koch said in his weekly message.

Last fall, Fardy received the 3M Star in the Classroom Award, sponsored by 3M and Econ Illinois. The award recognizes several educators each year who have incorporated economic education into the classroom, and provided a learning environment that has allowed for student success, according to District 99 officials.

Additionally, Star in the Classroom teachers have "promoted economics in the classroom by providing leadership for economics in their school, showing evidence of professional growth in economic education, or having sustained student growth in economic understanding."  

"We are truly fortunate to have thousands of great teachers in Illinois who are passionate about improving outcomes and opportunities for students," Koch said.