Music educator Grace Jeong of Chicago, Illinois, has received a 2024 Award of Excellence fro the Illinois State Board of Education. Photo Credit: Illinois State Board of Education

It is always my pleasure to share the news that an exceptional educator has earned accolades for their work with young people. Today, I share the news that Chicago music educator Grace Jeong has received a 2024 Award of Excellence from the Illinois State Board of Education.

The Award of Excellence is given to teachers who have greatly improved their school community by advocating for positive change and have shared opportunities for improvement with colleagues. These educators have become an integral member of their departments and larger school culture.

Grace teaches at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. Under her direction, her choir students have performed at prestigious venues, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall, the Auditorium Theater, and The Art Institute of Chicago. In competitions, the school’s choirs consistently earn Superior and Honors Superior ratings in both Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and Illinois High School Association (IHSA) choral festivals. The groups have also performed in other states, including Tennessee and Florida, and overseas in Germany, South Korea, and China.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Grace frequently works as a judge and a clinician in the greater Chicago area, and she has served as the CPS All-City High School Assistant Director. In addition to her recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education, she was selected by the National Endowment for Humanities to participate in the Mozart Institute in Vienna, Austria.

Grace earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She earned her Master’s degree from the University of Southern California. She earned a second Master’s degree in Choral Education from VanderCook College of Music.