EDWARDSVILLE – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) Region 5 honored educators from Litchfield, Mount Olive, Troy and St. Jacob for their outstanding commitment to their schools, their students, their communities and to public education. The annual IEA Region 5 awards banquet recognizes honorees based on union, school and community activities.
The IEA Region 5 award recipients were nominated and chosen for the awards by their peers.
The 2025 IEA Region 5 award winners are:
- Region 5 Outstanding Teacher Award – Amy Newkirk (fifth grade teacher, Litchfield Elementary School)
As a fifth-grade teacher, Amy helps students hit their marks and new teachers grow in their careers. Students love her challenges and the way she brings her personality into the classroom; even students from many years ago won’t forget how they had no homework for a week after the Seahawks won a game! Outside of the classroom, Amy volunteers to play in the pit band for both Hillsboro’s and Litchfield’s musicals and she accompanies students for recitals. After many years serving students at Litchfield Elementary School, Amy is celebrating her retirement. While she will be dearly missed by students and staff, they are cheering her on as she enters a new chapter.
- Region 5 Outstanding Teacher Award – Amanda Osmoe (physical education and health teacher, athletic director, Mt. Olive Community Unit School District (CUSD 5))
Amanda Osmoe wears many hats in the Mt. Olive CUSD 5. Amanda is a P.E. teacher, health teacher, driver’s ed instructor, junior high volleyball coach, sophomore class sponsor and athletic director for the district. Whether it’s helping the sophomore class raise money for the Valentine’s dance or spending hours making cheese balls to fundraise for the Parent Teacher Association, you will find Amanda going above and beyond in everything she does. Her dedication to students has helped build playgrounds and sponsor parades. Amanda is an excellent example of who we want Mt. Olive students and staff to emulate.
- Region 5 Outstanding Teacher Award – Julie Wargo (third grade teacher, Mt. Olive Elementary)
If a student has passed through Julie Wargo’s classroom, they will remember her for her dedication and kindness. Julie has high expectations for her third graders and treats everyone in the school with love, dignity, kindness and forgiveness. She is the kind of teacher who is rarely at her desk; in the morning, you will find her greeting every student at the door. During class, she is walking around the room to answer questions and help students do their best. She is excellent at working with parents and has volunteered for every family night for the past 32 years. She is a shining example of empathy, love and commitment to her students.
- Region 5 Outstanding Teacher Award – Kendra Litteken (special education teacher, Triad High School)
Kendra Litteken ensures that every student, regardless of ability, feels valued and capable. She works to meet the diverse needs of her students and is always creating new ways to help students grow behaviorally and academically. Not only is she a wonderful teacher, but she is a dedicated advocate for her students, their families and other educators in special education. She truly helps every student thrive at school.
- Region 5 Outstanding Teacher Award – Keely McFarland (special education teacher, Triad High School)
Keely McFarland works hard to ensure that students with disabilities have the support they need to succeed. Keely’s door is always open, and she regularly works with students before school, at lunch and during breaks to make sure they are caught up from an absence or to provide extra assistance. She makes sure her classroom is welcoming and she provides opportunities for academic rigor. Her coworker Matt Gessford shared, “I can say with 100 percent certainty that Keely makes every day better.”
- Region 5 Outstanding Teacher Award – Susan Parker (school counselor, Henning Elementary School)
As the Henning Elementary School counselor, Susan has a gift for brightening everyone’s day. You will see Susan everywhere — assisting with the talent show, taking on duties when a colleague went on maternity leave, planning events and, of course, showing up for her students. Susan is there for emergencies, when kids need help regulating their emotions, and she is there for long-term work to help students grow throughout their education. Susan is certified as both a school counselor and social worker, two roles that come with many responsibilities that sometimes go unseen. Susan is absolutely deserving of this award and her contributions to Henning deserve to be recognized and celebrated.
- Region 5 Outstanding Teacher Award – Adam Schroeder (music teacher, Henning Elementary School)
Adam does it all at Henning Elementary School. Adam teaches all the music and tech classes, organizes and choreographs the musicals and talent shows, and volunteers any extra time he has to school activities. He oversees the before-school run club. Adam also helps organize the Veterans Day program, inviting families and community veterans to attend. He is adored by all students. Just recently, a group of third graders were spotted singing and dancing their parts for the third-grade play, “Yeehaw!”, over the weekend. He is a breath of fresh air at Henning and admired by his peers.
- Region 5 Outstanding Teacher Award – Emily Pence (kindergarten teacher, St. Jacob Elementary School)
Emily is the kind of kindergarten teacher every parent wants for their child. She encourages every student to meet their goals and celebrates their efforts, not just their successes. She has an open line of communication with parents and often shares photos and student progress, so they feel connected to their child’s education. One project that sticks out is when Emily created life-size drawings of penguins and hung them in the hallway so students could compare their height with each one. When it comes to helping her students, she looks beyond the classroom and is always thinking of ways to improve St. Jacob as a whole. She has brought back so many events, such as family reading night and Grandparents’ Day. She serves on various committees and created the shoe-tying club as well as the character education awards. You will always find her at student games. She is a gift to St. Jacob Elementary School.
- Region 5 Outstanding Educational Support Professional Award – Diane Frey (kindergarten/response to intervention (RTI) aide, St. Jacob Elementary School)
When kindergarten students walk through the door on the first day, Diane Frey eases their worries. She teaches students something important every day, whether it is how to hold a pencil, how to build classroom skills or how to feel confident at school. She incorporates hands-on learning and creates an environment where struggling learners feel safe, supported and motivated. During COVID-19, Diane joined the school bus drivers to deliver lunches to students. She has dedicated 32 years to helping every student in Triad School District and is now celebrating her retirement. There is no one more deserving of this award and she will be deeply missed by students and staff.
Pictures from the IEA Region 5 awards banquet are available upon request.
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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
