Standout Staff Members Recognized at ETHS

The following press release was submitted by Evanston Township High School:

Each year, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) honors exemplary teachers, administrators, student support personnel, educational service personnel, community volunteers, board members and teams from school districts across the state. This school year, staff members from Evanston Township High School (ETHS) received awards of recognition and merit from the ISBE’s Those Who Excel recognition program.

In the category of Classroom Teacher, James Sklar received an award of recognition. Sklar is a teacher in the ETHS History Department, working with students of all ability levels and learning styles. Recognized as a Master Teacher who earned National Board Certification, Sklar mentors student teachers and consistently works to improve his own instruction.

ETHS History/Social Science teacher Corey Winchester received an award of excellence in the category of Outstanding Early Career Educator. A third-year teacher, Winchester has become a leader in race and equity initiatives at ETHS and he has incorporated a social justice lens in his instructional approach. His commitment extends beyond the classroom through involvement in students’ extracurricular activities, including Freshman Class Council advisor and former volleyball coach.

In the category of Student Support Personnel, Martha Zarate-Ortega, ETHS social worker, received an award of recognition. During the past seven years Zarate-Ortega has worked to better serve Latino students, helping establish the Latino Advisory Committee and planning the school’s System of Supports program.  She serves as an advocate for students with compassion and concern. Her fluency in Spanish has also promoted better communication with Latino families, helping empower students and the school community.

An Award of Excellence went to Midge Stocker in the category of Educational Service Personnel. Stocker, Information Services Manager at ETHS, uses her knowledge and expertise in computer programming and systems analysis to problem-solve and enhance existing programs. A leader in the Information Technology (IT) department, Stocker is able to make complex data more user-friendly to serve the needs of all students as well as staff.

ETHS’s CARE Team also received an award of recognition. For several years ETHS educators have voluntarily participated in the Collaborative Action Research for Equity (CARE) Team to improve academic achievement among all students. Through personal and professional commitment, CARE Team members have collaborated to address the achievement gap and by sharing strategies and successes in working with students of color. More than 45 teachers have participated on CARE Team since its inception.