Grayslake Teacher Nominated For National Award, Needs Votes To Win $10K

A teacher at Grayslake North High School has been nominated for an award that could net $10,000 for the school. Social studies teacher Chris Kubic is one of 10 nationwide finalists in The Great American Teach-Off.

"Thanks to the kindness and initiative of my colleagues and students, I have been nominated for The Great American Teach-Off, a competition that highlights teachers who use creative innovations to make a positive difference in their classroom, school, and community," Kubic said.

The grand prize is a $10,000 grant for his classroom and the . Kubic said the nomination was a great surprise.

"I am honored by this nomination, and I believe that it reflects as much about the GNHS community as it does about me," Kubic said. "It has been humbling and a big boost to my confidence. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in what I feel I’m not doing well that I lose sight of the good things that I do. It has been very encouraging to hear stories about how I have made a positive difference."  

Kubic is known for his willingness to join in the fun of unique projects he creates with his students. That, in fact, is how he found out about the award.

"A funny story about the nomination – my students surprised me at halftime of the last home boys’ basketball game," Kubic said. "I was involved in a teacher appreciation dance with the poms team, and after our routine at halftime, members of my class took the microphone and directed me to center court. I was quite terrified that they were going to make me dance solo, but after they announced the nomination and I was assured that this was the Great American TEACH-off and not the Great American DANCE-off, I felt better."

Kubic has taught in District 127 for eight years. His background also includes working at Trinity International University and Northern Illinois University, working to coordinate new student orientation and success programs. He said his mission now is to help bridge the gap for students between high school and college. In addition to teaching US History, he also teaches sections of the Public Service Practicum and AP Psychology classes at Grayslake North. For extracurricular activities, he coaches the Congressional Debate team, assists with Link Crew (a freshman orientation program), and announces at basketball games and other athletic events. 

When asked what he would do with the grant if he won, Kubic said, "I’m in the process of gathering ideas from students, colleagues, and the administration. I know I’d want to do something that has a broad and sustainable impact – something that would benefit most of the school’s students or the community for years to come."

Here is how to vote for Chris Kubic from Grayslake North High School:

1. Vote daily starting Monday, March 5. Go to www.GOOD.is/GATO.

• During the first visit, click “Join” in the upper right corner and sign up.

• To revisit the site later, click “Sign In” in the upper right corner.

• Follow the link to GATO voting.

2. There are four rounds to the competition (if at any point, Kubic's name is not listed among the candidates, that means that he did not advance to that round): 

• Round 1 begins at 5 p.m. Monday, March 5.  
• Vote once a day, every day, until 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 12. 

• Round 2 begins at 5 p.m. Monday, March 12.  
• Vote once a day, every day until 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 19.

• Round 3 begins at 5 p.m. Monday, March 19.  
• Vote once a day, every day until 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 26.

• Round 4 begins at 5 p.m. Monday, March 26.  
• Vote once a day, every day until 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 9.

3. Each round of competition requires Kubic to post a different video on his YouTube channel. The videos are only 90 seconds long and answer questions posed by the competition organizers. 

• Link to the video channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ckubic1?feature=mhee.

• The videos are also available on the GATO website starting Monday, March 5: www.GOOD.is/GATO.

4. Spread the word among families, friends, colleagues, professional organizations and community supporters.

•  Use e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and other media to encourage people to vote.

"I don’t want this to just be for me," Kubic said, "but for my students, school and community."

If you have questions, contact ckubic@d127.org or northpublicservice@yahoo.com.