English teacher Amber Jirsa of Batavia, Illinois, has been honored as the state’s North Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education. Photo credit: Glancer Magazine
It is always a pleasure for me to share the story of an exemplary educator. Today, the spotlight shines on Amber Jirsa, an English teacher from Bolingbrook, Illinois. In Feb., 2023, Amber was honored as North Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Amber earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education from Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois, in 2008. She earned her Master’s degree in Administrative Leadership from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois, in 2011. She also completed the requirements for her certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University in 2021.
In 2008, Amber accepted a teaching position at Bolingbrook High School, where she taught for six years. In 2014, she relocated to Batavia High School, where serves as a Lead Instructor and teaches World Literature and American Literature.
“As an educator, my passion lies in creating inclusive and equitable learning environments where all students feel seen, heard, and valued,” Amber declares. “I have dedicated my career to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classroom and beyond, and am committed to supporting students’ social-emotional growth and well-being,” she continues.
To achieve this goal, Amberparticipates in her district’s Equity Committee and the Illinois Education Association’s Human and Civil Rights Committee. And she is a facilitator for the National Education Association’s Leaders for Just Schools Cohort.
To read more about Chalkboard Champion Amber Jirsa, click on this link to an interview with her published by Batavia Public School District 101.