Dr. Hamilton was featured in the Illinois State Superintendent's Weekly Address!
Those Who
Excel
Meet
Illinois Teacher of the Year Finalist Candace
Hamilton of Whiteside SD
115 Initially, Candace
Hamilton didn’t seriously
consider teaching as a
profession. Although she
always enjoyed playing
school with her girlfriends
as a child, her parents
encouraged her to dream big
so Candace decided
to become a doctor. She spent
eight years going
to school to learn her chosen
profession of being an
optometrist. She practiced
for two years, but after her
dad passed away she lost her
drive for it and opted to
stay home with her children
while they were young.
Her role as a mom helped
awaken her passion for teaching and she set her sights on becoming the best
teacher she could be! Candace is now in her 12th year of teaching science. The
past eight of those years have been at Whiteside Middle School in Whiteside
School District 115 in Belleville. She earned her National Board certification
in 2012. Her principal says that Candace is an excellent collaborator who is
committed to maintaining a dynamic student-centered learning environment.
Candace is also recognized as an outstanding mentor for other educators and she
frequently presents at Professional Learning Communities meetings. One of
Candace’s colleagues says, “Candace balances professionalism and compassion
with students, parents, and staff. Students are her first priority and she sees
that all of her students succeed.”
Candace has received several
grants that she uses to fund projects like the Children’s Energy Book STEAM
project. During the project, eighth-graders work collaboratively to write and
design a book for younger students to educate them about forms of energy,
energy transformation, and alternative energy resources. The eighth-graders
fully embrace this activity because they really like educating and interacting
with younger students. The project doubles as a service learning project
because the books are ultimately donated to one of two centers in the area that
help children. Candace describes her teaching style like this: “My students are
empowered to learn not only by watching, but by doing and then teaching
others.” Candace is one of our 10 finalists for Illinois Teacher of the Year,
which we will name at the Those Who Excel banquet in Normal on Oct. 22.
