2024
Jeremy Bachelor — Professor of Spanish — Heartland Community College
Dr. Bachelor’s dedication, leadership, and passion for education set him apart in the best way. His tireless advocacy work, innovative teaching methods, and commitment to student success embody what it means to go above and beyond for the community college community.


2023
Fonda Ginsburg — Professor of English — College of Lake County, College of DuPage, and Harper College
With a Masters of Arts and a Master in Music, Fonda Ginsburg teaches English at College of Lake County, College of DuPage, and Harper College. Prior to this, Fonda taught both full-time General Music and part-time Special Education Reading in the Chicago Public Schools, while also coaching high school debate. Last year she won the NISOD Teaching Excellence Award from the College of Lake County. Fonda has taught professional development workshops in diversity, equity, and inclusion, active learning strategies, AI in the classroom, and most recently, strategies for creating an inclusive classroom environment for neurodiverse learners. Fonda has also returned to graduate school where she enrolled in a graduate certificate program in Special Education with a Focus on Autism and Neurodiversity.


2020 - 2022
No award given


2019
David Seiler
Lake Land College


2018
Connie McLean
Black Hawk College


2017
Wendy Brown
Danville Area Community College


2016
Shanina Thomas
Harold Washington College


2015
Mike Phillips
Illinois Valley Community College


2013
Amy Powers
Waubonsee Community College


2012
Nicole Perry
Oakton Community College


2011
Mike Rudibaugh
Lake Land Community College


2010
Jim Sheff
Spoon River College


2009
Jay Cohen
Oakton Community College