Horace Mann names top teacher, administrator in Springfield school district
Jason Wind, executive director of school support for School District 186, was named Horace Mann Administrator of the Year, while Southeast High School science teacher Jason Potter was selected as Horace Mann Educator of the Year.
District 186 Superintendent Jennifer Gill, Horace Mann president and CEO Marita Zuraitis and Katie Hageman of Hageman Family Insurance, a Horace Mann agency, presented the awards at two separate events April 12.
Horace Mann Educators Corporation is headquartered in Springfield.
'It's not about me'
Wind has been with the district for 31 years and in his current position for nearly seven years. Before that, he was principal at Southeast and Hazel Dell Elementary School.
For Wind, District 186 literally is family.
His father, Lyle Wind coached football and was an administrator at Lanphier High School and Franklin Middle School. His mother, Lee, taught at Hay-Edwards and Sandburg elementary schools. Both came to Springfield in the late 1960s.
Wind's wife, Elin, is a reading teacher at Jane Addams Elementary School and his daughter-in-law, Baylee Wind, teaches at Ball Charter School.
Wind was joined by friends and family, including his sons, Jacob and Caleb, when the award was presented at a leadership meeting at district headquarters.
Wind said he was surprised by but "appreciative" of the award.
"It's not about me; it's about the people who work with me," Wind said. "It's great to be recognized, but the recognition wouldn't be there without the people who have helped me out along the way."
Wind has a master's in educational administration and supervision from the University of Illinois Springfield. Wind earned his bachelor's degree in history/teacher education from Western Illinois University.
Related: Champion of students and teachers honored at Springfield area elementary school
Wind received a $500 check and a crystal award.
Other finalists for Administrator of the Year were Stacie Gordy, assistant principal at Springfield High School and Sarah Beveridge, principal at Butler Elementary School.
Making a difference
Potter, who has been with District 186 for 21 years all at Southeast, said the recognition was "very validating."
Two students nominated Potter, who is a science teacher in the high school's health and science academy.
"Teachers don't often hear they're making a difference," Potter said.
The four-year academy within Southeast tries to introduce students to as many health careers as possible, he said.
Potter is starting a master's degree program in biology from the University of Nebraska. He did his undergraduate work at Albion College and has a master's degree in educational leadership from UIS.
Potter received $1,400 and a crystal award.
Other Educator of the Year finalists were Nathan Grieme, fourth grade teacher at Enos Elementary School; Jalene Hull, math teacher at Franklin Middle School; William Russell, instrumental/vocal music teacher at Lincoln Magnet and Amie Godefroid, fourth grade teacher at Lindsay Elementary School.
Rising Star Award winners
The Rising Star Award, which honors three promising teachers who have been with District 186 for four years or less, was given to James Biggers, math teacher, at Southeast; Terrelle Jackson, English teacher at Lanphier and Emily Standley, social studies teacher at Lincoln Magnet. They each received $250 and a crystal award.
Contact Steven Spearie: (217) 622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Horace Mann names top teacher, administrator in Springfield, Illinois
