Nominate 2026 Alumni of the Year
Help Us Celebrate Alumni Making a Lasting Impact
Across Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana, Teach For America alumni are leading classrooms, schools, and systems and creating meaningful, measurable change for students and communities every day. Each year, the Alumni of the Year Award winners receive $5,000 and give us the opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate those leaders whose work exemplifies educational excellence.
Now, we’re calling on our community to help us identify the next Alumni of the Year.
Honoring Excellence
In recent years, we have been proud to recognize extraordinary alumni whose dedication and leadership continue to shape what’s possible in education.
In 2025, we honored three remarkable leaders whose impact spans classrooms, school buildings, and systems:
Jeraniqua Martin, Teacher of the Year, a 5th-grade educator at A.J. Katzenmaier Academy, was celebrated for creating an inclusive, empowering classroom where students collaborate, celebrate differences, and thrive. Her excellence was further recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education’s Those Who Excel award.
Elizabeth Jamison-Dunn, School Leader of the Year, has spent nearly two decades serving the Catalyst Circle Rock community as a teacher, instructional leader, and principal. Under her leadership, the school has seen transformative progress in student achievement and community partnership.
Jesse Ilhardt, the first Systems Leader of the Year and Executive Director and Co-Founder of VOCEL, has reimagined early childhood education by equipping families and educators with tools to support children’s development—work shaped by her experience as a TFA educator, coach, and parent.
They were all honored at our 25th Anniversary Homecoming Summit.
Reflecting on their accomplishments, Executive Director Anajah Philogene shared,
“Jeraniqua, Elizabeth, and Jesse exemplify the very best of what it means to be a Teach For America alum. Their passion, resilience, and unwavering belief in what is possible for students inspire us all.”
The year before, in 2024, we celebrated alumni Brittanee Rolle, whose culturally responsive teaching empowers students through writing and identity, and Barton Dassinger, whose school leadership has helped students excel year after year in one of Chicago’s most diverse communities. Each honoree received a $5,000 award and was surprised at their school—a powerful moment that affirmed the impact of their work. They were all honored at our 2024 Annual Benefit Dinner.
Nominations Matter—Especially This Year
With a network of more than 3,500 alumni across our region, we know there are countless stories of impact that deserve recognition. But many of the most powerful stories are only known by colleagues, partners, parents, students, and fellow alumni who witness this work firsthand.
That’s why nominations are essential.
This year, it’s especially important to nominate. We want to ensure our award recipients reflect the full breadth and diversity of leadership across our alumni community—from classrooms to communities, from early childhood to systems change. Every nomination helps surface leaders who might otherwise go unrecognized and ensures that excellence, equity, and impact remain at the center of our celebration.
By submitting a nomination, you are:
Lifting up alumni who are advancing educational excellence
Helping us recognize leadership that strengthens opportunities for students
Ensuring our community continues to celebrate impact in all its forms
Who Can Nominate?
Anyone can submit a nomination—staff, alumni, colleagues, partners, parents, and community members. You don’t need to write a perfect essay; you just need to share why this alum’s leadership matters.
Nominate Today
The Alumni of the Year Awards honor outstanding teachers, school leaders, and systems leaders, each of whom will receive a $5,000 award and be recognized in Spring 2026.
Help us celebrate the alumni who inspire you.
Submit a nomination before the deadline to help honor the leaders shaping the future of education in our region.
