IC alumna wins statewide teaching award
Darcy O’Connor was recently named “2018 Educator of the Year.”
I received a great education at Illinois College that prepared me for the classroom and encouraged me to try new things. The teacher preparation program pushed me to be bold in the classroom and find what works best for my students.
Darcy O’Connor ’12, fourth-grade teacher at New Holland-Middletown Elementary School in Middletown, Illinois, has been selected the “2018 Educator of the Year” by Illinois Computing Educators in the Classroom Teacher category.
O’Connor graduated from Illinois College in 2012, with a degree in elementary education and summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors. She says that the Illinois College education program prepared her for success teaching in her own classroom.
I received a great education at Illinois College that prepared me for the classroom and encouraged me to try new things. The teacher preparation program pushed me to be bold in the classroom and find what works best for my students,” said O’Connor. "I credit IC and its professors for being a part of my success as a teacher.
In December of 2017, O’Connor completed a Masters of Arts in Education with a focus in
curriculum and instruction from Greenville University. Now in her sixth year of teaching, O’Connor said that it has always been her passion to incorporate technology into her classroom in engaging ways.
“I have enjoyed extending the curriculum through technology, and am honored to have received this award, ” she said.
The Educator of the Year award is designed to honor ICE members from throughout the state of Illinois who are exemplary educators and leaders at the school or district level, and who have made significant contributions leading to the integration of technology into the educational process.
Educators are nominated for this award by colleagues, fellow teachers, students, and school administrators who feel that the nominee has made outstanding contributions to the integration of technology and the improvement of teaching and learning in their school or district. Once nominated, candidates must complete an extensive application process that is reviewed, evaluated, and scored by members of the ICE Educator of the Year Committee. Selections are then confirmed by the ICE Executive Board for final approval.
O’Connor will be presented her award at the upcoming Illinois Computing Educators State Conference.