Dr. Lisa Jackson, LAS ’95, ENG, Elementary Education, was honored by the Illinois State Board of Education as the Special Education Teacher of the Year as part of the Teacher of the Year Cohort.
Jackson works for Woodland High School in Streator, Illinois, where she teaches high school and special education classes. She is one of just 12 teachers statewide to be selected for the cohort.
Teachers named to the Teacher of the Year Cohort must have demonstrated a commitment to equity and the success of all students. They regularly collaborate with colleagues, students, and families to create positive school cultures. They are lifelong learners who connect their schools to the community at large and who inspire other education professionals within and beyond their schools.
Many of Jackson's students highlighted her commitment to helping students in interviews with WEEK-TV news:
Senior Layna Wilcoxen said Jackson helped her feel like a leader through the freedom and independence she’s been given through having her as a leader in the school’s Key Club.
“She honestly has been such a figure in my life. She’s changed my life so much, I can’t even express it in words. She’s just always there and she helps us create like this sense of independence,” said Wilcoxen.
“She lets us create all our own ideas, and she helps us shape them into the best versions they can be, so when we carry them out for service projects, they’re always successful because we have her as our backbone and our support,” Wilcoxen said.
The Illinois State Board of Education will announce the 2026 Illinois Teacher of the Year later this spring. All honorees will be recognized at the annual Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year awards banquet on April 18.
