Eight D21 staff members among ISBE’s honorees for extraordinary contributions to education

Gustavo Atempa – Spanish Interpreter, Districtwide | Award of Excellence

Atempa was nominated by Ania Figueroa, director of language services, who credited him for bridging “cultural and linguistic gaps, creating meaningful connections that allow our multilingual families to fully participate in the educational experience.”

“I was kind of surprised by the recognition,” Atempa said. “I wasn’t expecting to get nominated until I saw the email from ISBE. It made my whole day and week. It shows that I’m contributing to the communication efforts between parents and teachers, and it feels great to be recognized for all the hard work.”

Atempa added that seeing families work together and have their voices heard is especially meaningful. He plans to continue developing his interpreting skills and eventually pursue a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and science in Spanish.

To learn more about Atempa, read his “My Why.”

Michelle Kuta – Art Teacher, Frost Elementary School | Award of Meritorious Service

Kuta received nominations from Frost Principal Catherine Joy and Chris Lapetino, director of teaching and learning for student enrichment and support. Joy called Kuta’s art program a “cornerstone” of the elementary school, crediting her for transforming her classroom into “an inspiring space where creativity, confidence, and connection flourish.”

Lapetino, meanwhile, said her work not only demonstrates her deep passion for art education, but also her unwavering commitment to her students, colleagues and school community. 

Kuta described her initial reaction as “beyond shocked” and said receiving the award was “such an honor.” She noted that creating a safe, inclusive environment where students feel comfortable expressing themselves has been central to her teaching.

She shared a meaningful classroom moment: “There was a student who had made some poor choices, and I told him I was here to support him. The next day, he left a card on my desk that said, ‘thank you for being my trusted adult.’ Moments like that remind me why this work matters.”

Kuta is excited to expand digital art offerings in her classroom with new iPads and bring innovative programming to students across the district.

Allison Parker – Eighth-Grade Teacher, London Middle School | Award of Meritorious Service

Parker received her nomination from Amy Breiler, director of teaching and learning for literacy, who said Parker is “known as a collaborative and flexible teammate who can work with anyone, and colleagues consistently seek her out because of her collaborative spirit and her ‘we can do this’ attitude.”

Parker said the recognition was particularly meaningful because it came from outside her building: “It feels good to be commended by someone who sees the work I do every day for students’ success,” she said. “It’s a reaffirmation of why I became a teacher.”

She has spent her entire career at London, focusing on student growth and building strong relationships alongside academic achievement. While she has occasionally considered moving into administration, Parker knows her heart is in the classroom.

“I really love being with the kids,” she said. “Every year it changes, every day it changes. It’s rewarding to be in the same school for so long and see generations of families—sometimes I have the parents of kids whose mothers I taught in sixth grade. It’s been amazing to build those long-term relationships and watch how it all turns out.”

Connor Potvin – Fourth-Grade Teacher, Frost Elementary School | Award of Excellence

Potvin received his nomination from Joy, who wrote: “Connor has emerged as a leader in social-emotional learning, modelling empathy, patience, and respect. His classroom is a safe and nurturing environment where relationships come first. Many students view him as a trusted adult they can turn to for guidance and reassurance.”

 Potvin called the recognition “humbling” and said it validated his efforts as an educator.

“Teaching can feel like an uphill climb even when you’re doing well,” he said. “Being recognized reinforces the work I put into helping students succeed.”

He credited his upbringing in a family of educators for shaping his approach, and hopes to continue mentoring student teachers as part of his career growth.

Gordana Rink – Second-Grade Bilingual/ESL Teacher, Frost Elementary School | Award of Meritorious Service

Rink was nominated by Joy and Carolyn Droll, director of teaching and learning for math. In her letter, Joy credited Rink’s range of experience for cultivating a deep understanding of the vertical scope and sequence of content areas across the elementary grades: “She skillfully differentiates instruction to meet students where they are while maintaining high expectations for growth.”

Droll, meanwhile, said Rink “stood out” to her for her thoughtfulness and quiet leadership: “She doesn’t immediately accept what is presented to her, but thinks it through carefully and considers how it aligns with the needs of her students. She asks deep questions and ensures that she is understanding so that she can effectively utilize new information, resources, and strategies to maximize her students’ learning experiences.”

For Rink, the nomination was “an emotional moment” during a particularly challenging year. “I was stunned and cried,” she said. “Just that someone had noticed my work made me feel seen, honored and humbled.”

She emphasized the joy of day-to-day teaching and witnessing students’ “lightbulb moments” where everything clicks into place. She looks forward to continuing her work as an educator, mentoring new teachers, participating on various committees to advocate for her students’ academic and linguistic needs. “I enjoy using language as a bridge to connect, support and inspire our diverse community of learners and families.” 

Marcela Rodriguez – Bilingual/ESL Instructional Specialist, Districtwide | Award of Special Recognition

Rodriguez’s nomination came from Alexandra Alvarez, Language Services Coordinator, who described her as “the kind of educator who makes everyone around her better. She is a fierce advocate for honoring students’ native languages while helping them thrive in English, always keeping their long-term success at the center of her efforts.”

Rodriguez said she feels deeply honored and humbled by the recognition.

“This award is truly an affirmation of my lifelong commitment to advocating for English learners,” she shared. “I have been passionate about serving these students for over 20 years. To have this work recognized is both overwhelming and incredibly meaningful. It shines a light not only on our students but also on the essential tools, resources, and support teachers need to help them grow and succeed.”

She emphasized the importance of continuously adapting instructional practices and leveraging technology to meet students’ evolving needs—while maintaining high expectations and a strong focus on language proficiency development.

Samantha Roth – Principal, Whitman Elementary School | Award of Special Recognition

Roth was nominated by Dr. Beatrice Reyes Childress, deputy superintendent, who credited her problem-solving and instructional leadership as key in “putting some much-needed systems and procedures in place at Whitman.

“Mrs. Roth’s leadership skills are among the strongest I have seen in my 25 years as an administrator,” Childress added. “One of Sammi’s greatest strengths is building trusting relationships with those she works with. She is approachable, friendly, and easily adapts to all district stakeholders from custodial staff to senior leadership and everyone in between.”

Roth said she was “incredibly happy” to receive the honor. “I care so much about the students and staff at Whitman. Recognition in this field is rare, and it feels good to see the dedication of our team acknowledged,” she said.

Her connection to students and staff remains her top priority, and hopes to continue strengthening Whitman’s learning community.

Jaclyn Share – Language Services Teacher Facilitator, Holmes Middle School | Award of Special Recognition

Share’s nomination came from Dr. Ali Zimmerman, assistant principal for instructional improvement at Holmes, who wrote that “her dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment to excellence have had a profound and measurable impact on both students and colleagues.”

Share described the honor as “humbling and validating,” particularly in her first years in a new role. “It was wonderful to know that my efforts were making an impact,” she said. “I want to continue supporting English learners and helping colleagues plan strategically to improve instruction for students.”

She emphasized the importance of seeing education as both a craft and an art form, striving to make learning meaningful and engaging for students.

To learn more about Share, read her “My Why.”