NLU Sponsors WGN-TV October Teacher of the Month Lyons Township High School's Jason Crean
(l. to r.) Chris Davis, vice provost of institutional effectiveness, National-Louis University; Jason Crean, Teacher of the Month; Valerie Warner, WGN-TV anchor reporter; and David Franson, principal, Lyons Township High School
National-Louis University (NLU) is the sponsor of the WGN-TV Teacher of the Month contest. One teacher is selected each month from September 2010 through June 2011 with a total of 10 teachers chosen. October's award-winning Teacher of the Month is Jason Crean, who teaches biology and zoology at Lyons Township High School in Western Springs, IL. He also teaches courses at Brookfield Zoo's education department.
Crean is being honored for his exceptional contributions both inside and outside of the classroom. He has also received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, given annually by President Obama to the nation's best pre-college-level science and math teachers.
Each WGN-TV Teacher of the Month selected receives a certificate to take a professional development course through the National College of Education at NLU and also a $1,000 gift certificate to be used for classroom needs.
Chris Davis, vice provost of institutional effectiveness at NLU, presented the award to Crean on Tuesday, October 19, at Lyons Township High School. "National-Louis University is thrilled to honor Mr. Crean for his excellence in teaching," said Davis. "He represents the best and brightest of his profession. Our university is proud to sponsor the WGN-TV Teacher of the Month contest."
Crean said about his Teacher of the Month honor, "I'm humbled and honored to receive this award. I love sharing my appreciation of living things with my students. Surrounding my students with plants and animals enhances the learning experience and helps the class develop a respect for life." Crean has received special attention for the genetics curriculum he publishes which gives his students a real world perspective on how genetics is actually used and how it can help conserve species.
"Crean is a huge asset to our school for fostering students' interest in science, especially biology," said Michele Chapman, department chair for math and science at Lyons Township High School. "He has developed a biology club that students attend once a week to help with the care of the animals in our school's lab."
WGN-TV broadcast the presentation of the Teacher of the Month award on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, during the 9pm News broadcast and also on Wednesday, October 27, during the midday News 11am to 1pm broadcast.
To learn more about the WGN-TV Teacher of the Month contest or to nominate a teacher, please go to www.wgntv.com/teacherofthemonth. Read more about Jason Crean in this recent Pioneer Press article about the Teacher of the Month at http://www.pioneerlocal.com/westernsprings/news/2855088,western-springs-crean-110410-s1.article.
About NLU
National-Louis University has been a force for change in American education since its founding in 1886. Known for nearly a century as the National College of Education, it is still nationally renowned today not only for its programs in teacher preparation and educational leadership, but as one of the first universities to address the unique needs of adult learners. NLU pioneered accelerated education for adults, and today offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the National College of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Management and Business. NLU has a flagship urban campus at 122 South Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago; campuses in Lisle, Skokie, Wheeling and Elgin, Ill.; as well as Beloit and Milwaukee, Wis.; Tampa, Fla. and Nowy Sacz, Poland.
To learn more about National-Louis University call 888.nlu.today or go to www.nl.edu.