It’s close to the end of the day and five of the 16 pre-school children are moving throughout the room and calling out Jacqueline Schubert’s name, almost incessantly. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start teacher patiently, loving and adeptly responds to each one.
“Yes, Jaden, what do you need?” asks the Region 5 Head Start Teacher of the Year, as she opens her arms to the four-year-old who has come and playfully wedged himself between her knees and the desk.
Schubert, child development supervisor at the Belleville Head Start Center, recently won Teacher of the Year Award for the Region 5 Head Start Association. Besides Illinois, Region 5 consists of Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Schubert’s advancement to the regional level indicates that she is also the winner at the state level. Her name will be submitted to the National Head Start Association for consideration of Teacher of the Year at the national level in March 2015.
“You have to have patience with children because they live in such a changing and fast environment. I’m probably too patient,” said the 67-year-old grandmother of 13. “But the students help keep me young; and I love children.”
The preschoolers seem to realize their teacher’s devotion and respond favorably.
“She’s nice to us,” said five-year-old Kaven Danser. “She reads books to us all the time.”
“She teaches us shapes and colors,” said five-year-old Janae Parker. “I like her. She lets us act silly and a lot of other stuff.”
Alicia Parker, Belleville Head Start Center coordinator who nominated Schubert for the honor, said the teacher was the first person to come to mind.
“She’s an extraordinary teacher,” Parker said. “She’s also good with parents and with special needs students.”
SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start manages seven centers and each one has the opportunity to nominate one person for various award categories. A committee from the SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start central office then choses one person for each category (if provided) and forwards the names to be considered for state awards.
“We are an award-winning Head Start/Early Head Start program,” said Carolyn Jason, program operations coordinator. “We have won at the state, regional and national level for various awards including Teacher of the Year, Parent of the Year and ‘Beating the Odds.’ ”
Schubert has been in education for 24 years. She has a bachelor’s in elementary education and a master’s in education administration, both from McKendree College. She has also taken several special education courses and is certified to teach special education in grades K-12.
“I’ve always clicked with special needs children. Everyone has a place in the world,” Schubert said. “I grew up with a brother who had Down syndrome. I feel quite at home with all children, and I think they pick up on that.
“I was surprised that I got the award,” she continued. “I totally forgot about it. I was just busy doing my job.”
Photos:
Jacqueline Schubert reads to Jaden Harrell.
Jacqueline Schubert waits for Ani’Yah Guyton to tell her the name of the shape she is holding.