Each year, Yorkville Educational Foundation honors Yorkville CUSD 115 educators, staff, volunteers, and community members who go above and beyond to support Y115. The Foundation's 5th annual Fostering our Future recognition program allows us to share the stories of these extraordinary heroes and honor them at a formal awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 5. 

• Educator of the Year (Early Childhood through 6th Grade Certified Staff) - includes primary teachers, specials teachers, special education teachers, and more.

• Educator of the Year (7th Grade through Adult Education Certified Staff) - includes primary teachers, elective teachers, special education teachers, and more.

• Rookie of the Year (Certified Staff) - open to anyone who has been an educator for five years or less.

• Non-Certified Employee of the Year - includes support staff, administrators, secretaries, custodians, paraprofessionals, nurses, and counselors.

• Spirit of the Fox Award - recognizes any person who embodies the fox spirit through their enthusiasm and passion for the district community through participation or support in education, extracurricular activities, or in community events.

• Initiative of the Year - recognizes an initiative or project that was innovative and has produced positive results during the 2022-23 year.

• Partner of the Year - recognizes any District 115 partner who has gone above and beyond as a volunteer organization or a business that has shown commitment and fulfills a need within the Yorkville education community.

Each nominee will be publicly recognized for their efforts in support of the district and the students it serves.

Nominations should demonstrate a sustained commitment to excellence and innovation in their role. Examples of this can include:

• Demonstrating genuine caring for students’ academic and emotional development, fostering a positive climate of respect, cooperation, and tolerance

• Demonstrating clear understanding of students' skills, and differentiating teaching based on this knowledge

• Inspiring students to think outside the box, creating an environment to dream big and make their dreams a reality

• Creating partnerships that bridge the classroom and students' homes

• Serving as a role model for students in the classroom, colleagues, the school program, and the community through their role, and extracurricular school and community activities

The most successful nominations provide specific examples to demonstrate the nominee's impact and differentiate their qualities among their peers.