North Shore Teacher 'Creates A Space For Students To Be Themselves'

WINNETKA, IL — One Winnetka teacher is in the running to win a $16,000 check for her school due to her dedication and compassion in the classroom.

Allie Szczecinski, a Social Emotional Learning Coach, at Crow Island Elementary School in Winnetka, is a finalist in Kleenex's Heroes of the Classroom Program. Szczecinski is among 10 teachers from across the country in the running for the Grand Prize.

The winner of the competition is selected by a public vote, which is open until Sept. 8.

"While we are so blessed with resources from our district and community, we are still a public school! Funds to support our SEL efforts, family and community events, and cross curricular experiences would be such a game changer for our student programming," Szczecinski told Patch.

Szczecinski is known not just for teaching children, but for mentoring dozens of new teachers and training entire schools on social-emotional learning.

Her first book, "Their Best Behavior: Practical Strategies for 10 Common Classroom Challenges," was published this year and offers solutions for teachers dealing with disruptive classroom behavior.

"As a special educator in a Title 1 Chicago school, she creates a space where students can be themselves—even on hard days. She teaches them how to name their emotions, how to reset when they feel overwhelmed, and how to bounce back from mistakes," the person who nominated Szczecinski said.

Szczecinski said she is proud to be a teacher at Crow Island, especially after her colleague selflessly offered to donate a kidney to Szczecinski's husband when he entered kidney failure. Just days before the start of the school yeah, art teacher Lillian Johnston donated her kidney, creating an unbreakable bond between the two families.

The winner of the competition will be named on Sept. 22. The Grand Prize specifically includes a $10,000 check for the winner, a $5,000 check for the school and a one-year supply of Kleenex Brand Tissue.

The nine remaining finalists will receive a $1,000 Costco Shop gift card and a $1,000 check for their school.