An Incredible Night Appreciating Teachers Across Illinois

On Friday, May 10th… it was an incredible night!

The We Appreciate Teachers Contest is our annual initiative that shines a spotlight on the incredible efforts of teachers in Illinois, highlighting their creativity and impact on their students.

The winning teachers were celebrated at a champagne reception at the Dank Haus German Cultural Center on the North side of Chicago. ​ Each of the winning teachers received 30 Back 2 School kits for their classroom as well as a gift basket filled with an array of gifts including wine, gourmet chocolates, coffee, gift cards, and much more. As a special part of the evening's festivities, each teacher was introduced with an explanation of why they were chosen as a standout educator.

Teachers play a crucial role in shaping the future of our communities, and Back 2 School America is proud to recognize them for their hard work and dedication! This event was a real testament to the hard work and value teachers represent in our society.

^{- Bernadette Shanahan-Haas, Executive Director, Back 2 School America}

One unexpected highlight was a teacher who brought a dozen newborn chicks to the event as they had just hatched in her classroom (and she couldn’t leave them in school over the weekend)! Guests fawned over the cute newborn baby chickens and added yet another happy element to the very special evening. ​

Thank You Xfinity ​ for Sponsoring the Reception!

Let's congratulate these twenty-five deserving teachers, each of whom will receive 30 school supply kits for their classroom.

These teachers go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of their students, and we are thrilled to show our appreciation for all that they do. Thank you to all the teachers who inspire, motivate, and empower our future leaders!

Teacher Classroom Kit

At the event, it was also announced that Back 2 School America was launching yet another program to benefit teachers. ​ This new program is a Teacher Classroom Kit, each kit contains over 375 supplies. This is all part of our goal to help recognize that getting and retaining good teachers is vital to the academic success of our future generations, particularly those who grow up under more challenging circumstances.

2024 Illinois Winning Teachers