Kevin Rutter is the fifth Eastern alumnus to win Illinois Teacher of the Year. He teaches at Carl Schurz High School in Chicago.

Mary Folino, principal of Carl Schurz High School, is proud, but not surprised.

When asked how he affected his students, Folino said, “Oh my God, tremendously. They do wonderful jobs. He helps them get internships with the government, big corporations and banks.”

Rutter has been with Schurz since 2000. Soon after arriving, he helped establish what the school calls the Business, Finance and Careers Academy. Interested students can enter the three-year program their sophomore year.

“Students want to get in this because of him,” Folino said. “They win competitions nationally against select enrollment schools.”

Rutter brings in guest speakers, helps students set up internships and assists his students in other ways that help them find employment after college. He is now the coordinator of the program.

“When the coordinator retired, I invited him to take over, and he just ran away with it,” Folino said.

Rutter graduated from Eastern in 1997 with a teacher’s certificate and a degree in social studies.

Charles Titus, chair of the social studies program, was proud to see the honor delivered to a graduate from his program.

“We’re thrilled that one of our folks got selected for such an honor as teacher of the year,” Titus said. “From what I understand, he was an outstanding student here at Eastern.”

Eastern began as a teachers’ college, and its history of teacher education remains strong.

The program is so strong that still today, education is what first comes to many people’s minds when they think of Eastern, said Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations.

“A few years ago we surveyed current students, prospective students, faculty and staff and alumni, and everyone of those groups said our teacher education program is what Eastern is best known for,” Nilsen said. “It rose to the top of every group surveyed.”

Nilsen said one reason Eastern has such a strong education department is its focus on integrative learning. Students seeking teacher’s certification take methods courses and student teaching, gaining in-class experience before graduation.

“They’re able to take that book knowledge and put it into practice,” Nilsen said.

The four past winners of the Illinois Teacher of the Year award from Eastern have been Joe Fatheree, Robert Grimm, Peggy Allan and Ruth Hawkins.

Sarah Ruholl can be reached at 581-7942 or seruholl2@eiu.edu.