Illinois Teacher of the Year to speak at USF
The 2004 Illinois Teacher of the Year will speak
at the University of St. Francis during the Nov.
2 induction ceremonies of the Future Educators
of America Chapter.
The ceremonies will begin at 5 p.m. in the university’s
Moes and Presidents Room.
Teacher of the Year Deborah Perryman, an environmental
science teacher at Elgin High School, was chosen
Illinois Teacher of the Year from 12 finalists
and more than 300 nominations from the Illinois
Board of Education’s 27th Annual Those Who
Excel Program.
The scope of Perryman’s environmental sciences and biology class has reached beyond the classroom, impacting the entire community. During her tenure with Elgin School District U-46, Perryman has ensured that hundreds of students received a substantive foundation in conservation education.
She is credited with transforming 335 acres of land on Elgin High School property into a district resource that provides hands-on, multi-sensory learning for students of all ages. Perryman’s students were the first to present at an international conference on solid waste. She estimates that her students have taught more than 10,000 young learners about Illinois Natural History.
The University of St. Francis, which serves more than 4,300 students nationwide, is at 500 Wilcox St. in Joliet. The university’s College of Education offers the undergraduate programs in elementary and special education as well as secondary education certification in the areas of biology, English, history and mathematics. The university also offers the master of science in Education. The master of Education with Certification is offered for those who already have a bachelor’s degree and are interested in earning a teaching certificate and master’s degree at the same time.