Of this year’s 10 finalists for Illinois Teacher of the Year, four are Eastern graduates.

Connie Harling, class of 1977, teaches fourth graders at Witt Elementary School in the Hillsboro school district.

Kevin Rutter, class of 1997, heads the academy of finance at Carl Schurz High School in Chicago School District 299.

Tim Schnoeker, class of 1987, is an industrial technology/vocational education teacher at Coulterville High School.

Melissa Sievers, class of 1989, is a special education teacher at Brussels High School.

The Illinois State Board of Education’s 2009-10 Illinois Teacher of the Year award will be presented at the Those Who Excel banquet Saturday at the Psre Marquette Hotel in Peoria.

For finalist Schoenker, the dream of being a teacher came at an early age.

He said he had thought about becoming a teacher since the fifth grade, and ever since, he lives for the experience.

“Hour by hour, period by period, year by year, there is a constant turnover of kids with new ideas and personalities,” Schnoeker said. “I get a thrill being in that kind of atmosphere.”

Finalist Rutter contributes Eastern to his success.

He said he has good memories of his time spent at Eastern, and that it has certainly paid off.

“I’m glad I went to Eastern,” Rutter said. “I’m really pleased with the experience I gained there while attaining teaching certification. I really think it prepared me for my work in education.”

The person who wins Teacher of the Year will represent Illinois at NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., and in the National Teacher of the Year Program sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and ING.

“Good teachers lead their students and themselves to excellence,” said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. “These 10 Illinois educators reflect the passion and dedication of teachers across the state who strive to make a difference each day and develop successful learners.”

Previous winners hail from Eastern

Four Eastern graduates previously have been named Illinois Teacher of the Year.

Ruth Hawkins, class of 1947-48, taught at Oakland’s Lake Crest Elementary School from 1958 to 1974 and later served as assistant professor of elementary education at Eastern. She was the 1973-74 Teacher of the Year.

Peggy Allan, class of 1971, taught at Greenville Junior High School from 1971 to 2005 and was assistant superintendent of Bond County Community Unit #2 from 1997 to 2005. She received the 1988-89 winner.

Robert Grimm, class of 1984, taught at Hoffman Estates High School in 1978-79 and William Fremd High School from 1979 to 2004 before beginning his current role as assistant superintendent in Township High School District #211. He was the 2002-03 Teacher of the Year.

Joe Fatheree, class of 1989, is an Effingham High School technology teacher who formerly taught and coached at Oakland High School. He won the 2006-7 award. In 2009, he won top honors at the National Education Association Foundation’s annual Salute to Excellence in Education.

Jason Hardimon can be reached at 581-7942 or at jrhardimon2@eiu.edu.