Putnam County’s Joshua Curry uses art as a gateway to open opportunities for students
DePue’s John Beatty, science teacher and coach for over 30 years, has found right track in education
Ottawa High’s Ellen Gross builds students’ skills – and confidence
Margo Cartwright will remember the smiles, hugs as she retires from Princeton Elementary
Woodland’s Lisa Jackson provides a ‘safe space’ for students to share, to vent
Franklin Elementary teacher’s parenting experience, music performances link students with lessons
Brian Lobdell is a second grade teacher at Sterling’s Franklin Elementary School. He transitioned into his career at Sterling schools years ago after spending a decade as a stay-at-home dad.
From life-size Monopoly to escape rooms, Sterling teacher’s social studies curriculum sparks student learning
Megan Grady, an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Sterling’s Challand Middle School, uses competition and interactive curriculum to keep kids engaged in history.
Dixon High School’s new choir gives all singers opportunity to lift up their voices
Dixon High School’s choir and life skills classes joined forces early in the 2025 spring semester to create a new singing ensemble, Voices United, that includes students with disabilities who want to sing and perform.
Thank You Teacher Letters 2025: Sauk Valley
Read our letters submitted by students and parents to Sauk Valley Media for our 2025 Thank You Teachers special edition
Dixon teacher combines books, basketball in special March Madness tradition at Jefferson Elementary
Combining her passion for teaching and basketball, a third grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary in Dixon started her own March Madness tradition centered around picture books.