Established in 2016, The Frances and Elliot Lehman Excellence in Teaching Award is an annual award given to an outstanding teacher in the Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana region who is an alumnus of Teach For America. This award recognizes outstanding culturally responsive teaching that empowers students in learning and in life.

This year's winners are Omar Arreola ('12) and Briana Jocelyn ('13). 

Tell us about your approach to teaching or leading. What methods have you found to empower and motivate your students?

Omar Arreola: Content relevance and student agency have definitely elevated my classroom the most since I started teaching. When I shifted my thinking, and instruction as a result, to prioritize the relevance of my content, I saw my students engage differently. I took the time to connect any content I could to their lived experiences.

If that wasn’t as accessible or possible, I was able to show them how the content we were studying could be applied to different career paths I learned they were interested in after surveying them about career goals. My students were deeply engaged with the content once they were able to connect the work to their own futures. 

What about being a teacher or school leader brings you joy?

Omar: The aha! moment when a student understands a concept and something you’re teaching them clicks. I’m thankful that I get to provide that experience for students and that they learn to appreciate the process of learning, especially when the content is hard. 

What was the most challenging thing about the last year?

Omar: No one could have predicted that last school year would end the way it did. Many of us teach because we find meaning in having a direct impact in our students’ learning and lives, so to lose the feeling of “direct” impact, or at least the way we’re used to experiencing it, was admittedly hard.

Everything I did this year was over Zoom, which felt like my first year teaching all over again. The uncertainty since last March has made being a teacher challenging but I’m thankful that my students never lost faith in me. Even remote learning could not prevent me from providing the quality education my kids deserve.

What are you most proud of?

Omar: This is my tenth year in education, which I never thought I’d be able to say. I started with City Year-Chicago because I wasn’t sure what career to pursue after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I applied to Teach For America because I was interested in exploring a career in education. Little did I know at the time that I would end up loving the experience so much that I would still be in education close to a decade later.

What or who inspired you to be a teacher or school leader?

Omar: My friend Whitney studied education when we were in college. Hearing about her experience student-teaching showed me how much purpose she felt in her role as an educator. In my last year of college, I took a break from my original career path to explore education.

I was terrified to have that change of heart so close to graduation but I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I haven’t looked back.

Ten years from now, what do you hope your students will remember about being in your classroom or school?

Omar: Math is all about finding a path to a solution. The path may not be the same for everyone, and you might make mistakes along the way, but perseverance can lead you to an eventual answer. I hope my kids remember their time in my classroom as a time where they learned a lot and enjoyed, or at least appreciated, the process of putting in the difficult work to solve a problem.

What about being a teacher or school leader brings you joy?

Briana Jocelyn: I find so much joy in the constant opportunity to grow as an educator. Every year I teach and learn from new students, all with different needs and aspirations. Every year I have the opportunity to make this year better than the year before. Even eight years in, I still have so much to learn about student relationship building, engagement, and content.

What was the most challenging thing about the last year?

Briana: This year has been challenging on many levels but it has pushed me to be a better educator and for that, I am eternally grateful. This year stretched me in big and small ways.

I have learned to lesson plan remotely, learned a host of new technology platforms, guided my content team through a new approach to literacy, and taught a grade and subject that I'd never taught before. I also learned how to plan more intentionally, to allow my content to drive my instruction, and how to invest kids in lessons in ways that I never before thought possible.

I've gained new information that has made me a more caring, engaged, and informed teacher and citizen.

What or who inspired you to be a teacher or school leader?

Briana: My dad taught seventh grade social studies for 42 years and every year he increased in creativity and imagination. I remember teachers pulling me aside to tell me how influential my dad was on them in their professions. I remember former students stopping him on the street or in the store to tell him how much they enjoyed his class and that he was their favorite teacher. When I think about who I want to be as an educator, he’s the first person who comes to mind.

Ten years from now, what do you hope your students will remember about being in your classroom or school?

Briana:I hope my students remember this year as one in which they felt seen, heard, and encouraged to grow.

Established in 2017, The Zell Family Excellence in School Leadership Award is an annual award given to an outstanding school leader in the Chicago-Northwest Indiana region who is an alumnus of Teach For America. This award recognizes leaders who have built and maintained excellent schools that ensure all students can become citizens who are prepared to shape their own pathways in life.

This year's winner are Lauren Albani ('07) and Tracie Sanlin ('07). 

Tell us about your approach to teaching or leading. What methods have you found to empower and motivate your students?

Lauren Albani: My approach to leading is based strongly on relational trust and distributed leadership. I believe that by building relationships and empowering others to be involved in the decision-making process results in a collaborative environment that is conducive to high levels of student learning outcomes. It is important for the staff to feel invested in the school and its mission to ensure that we are all working together towards the same goal.

What about being a teacher or school leader brings you joy?

Lauren: Without a doubt, the students bring me joy daily. Their energy is infectious and their need for a high quality school experience is what keeps me motivated to do this work.

What was the most challenging thing about the last year?

Lauren: I am sure it goes without saying but the transition to remote learning has been incredibly challenging. Our district closed in March 2020 and did not reopen for in-person learning until March 2021.

The entire experience felt incredibly heavy. While the school leader role always comes with carrying a lot of weight from others, the added burden of the stress of the pandemic was tough to manage. However, I do think I have become a stronger leader because of the experience.

What are you most proud of?

Lauren: In light of the pandemic, I am so proud of my staff's transition to remote learning and their continued commitment to ensuring it is the best it can be. It was a difficult learning experience but their creativity and resilience was incredible. I am so thankful for such an amazing staff that really stepped up for our students.

What or who inspired you to be a teacher or school leader?

Lauren: I have been blessed to have two strong male figures in my life that have contributed to my work ethic and commitment to education. My grandfather worked in higher education and he had such a passion for the importance of education and teachers that he inspired me to work in this field. My father had an incredibly strong work ethic and commitment to the patients he served as their doctor and it was something that I admired growing up and is forever instilled in me.

Both of them passed away last year, which has been difficult, but I think of them often and know that they are with me on my journey each and every day.

Ten years from now, what do you hope your students will remember about being in your classroom or school?

Lauren: I hope they remember a love of learning and school. Being in elementary education, our goal is to set the foundation for a strong academic career moving forward and we want students to love learning.

Tell us about your approach to teaching or leading. What methods have you found to empower and motivate your students?

Tracie Sanlin: My belief has always been to walk along my scholars and teachers in their development. I've also advocated strongly for maintaining a high bar of excellence. My kids would often say I expected too much but they also would tell you I believe they can do anything and everything is possible.

What about being a teacher or school leader brings you joy?

Tracie: My children are my greatest joy by far! A close second is having the incredible privilege of being a part of the extended families of our teachers and students.

Ten years from now, what do you hope your students will remember about being in your classroom or school?

Tracie: I hope that my scholars remember that they are loved so deeply.  No matter what the world may say, you are an incredible human being. 

They would also spout back the phrase I say to them every single day: “Do more today than you did yesterday. We are Chicago Collegiate, where excellence is a habit every single day.”