Tag Archives: Teacher

Elk Grove ESL instructor named Illinois Teacher of the Year

(NORMAL) An English as a Second Language teacher from suburban Chicago has been named the 2017 Illinois Teacher of the Year.

The Illinois State Board of Education is honoring Elk Grove High School teacher Ricky Castro. They announced him as the winner on Saturday at an annual banquet in Normal.

The board cited Castro for helping students learn two languages and having a “passion to give back.”

Castro created a program at Elk Grove High School called Estudiantes Unidos. The program has high school students mentor junior high and elementary students. More than 200 students are involved.

The honor means that Castro will spend next year speaking to at workshops, education conferences and community meetings. He will also represent Illinois at the National Teacher of the Year program.

 

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West Side teacher dies of heart disease while at school

(CHICAGO) A teacher at a West Side school died at work Tuesday afternoon.

James Dasher, 58, collapsed while at work at Spencer Technology Academy, 214 N. Lavergne, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

He was taken to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park where he was pronounced dead at 3:50 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy found Dasher’s cause of death was organic cardiovascular disease.

This week, a medical emergency took place at Spencer Technology Academy,” a spokeswoman for Chicago Public Schools said in a statement issued Friday morning. “Our thoughts and condolences are with the friends and family of the teacher at this time, and we have provided a crisis team to the school to support students and staff.”

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