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Horace Mann appoints top teacher and administrator in Springfield, Illinois

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Jason Wind, executive director of school support for School District 186, was named Horace Mann Administrator of the Year, while Jason Potter, science teacher at Southeast High School, was selected Horace Mann Educator of the Year.

District 186 Superintendent Jennifer Gill, president and CEO of Horace Mann Marita Zuraitis and Katie Hageman of Hageman Family Insurance, an agency of Horace Mann, presented the awards at two separate events on April 12.

Horace Mann Educators Corporation is headquartered in Springfield.

‘It’s not about me’

Wind has been with the district for 31 years and in his current position for almost seven years. Previously, he was principal of Southeast and Hazel Dell Elementary School.

For Wind, District 186 is literally family.

His father, Lyle Wind, coached football and was an administrator at Lanphier High School and Franklin Middle School. His mother, Lee, taught at Hay-Edwards and Sandburg elementary schools. Both came to Springfield in the late 1960s.

Wind’s wife, Elin, is a reading teacher at Jane Addams Elementary School and his daughter-in-law, Baylee Wind, teaches at Ball Charter School.

Wind was joined by friends and family, including his sons Jacob and Caleb, when the award was presented during a leadership meeting at district headquarters.

Wind said he was surprised by the award but “appreciated” it.

“It’s not about me; it’s about the people who work with me,” Wind said. “It’s great to be recognized, but the recognition wouldn’t be there without the people who helped me along the way.”

Wind earned a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from the University of Illinois Springfield. Wind received his bachelor’s degree in history/teacher education from Western Illinois University.

Related: Student and teacher champion honored at Springfield Elementary School

Wind received a check for $500 and a crystal award.

Other finalists for Administrator of the Year were Stacie Gordy, assistant principal of Springfield High School, and Sarah Beveridge, principal of Butler Elementary School.

Make the difference

Potter, who has worked at District 186 in Southeast for 21 years, said the recognition was “very affirming.”

Two students nominated Potter, a science teacher at the high school’s health and science academy.

“Teachers don’t often hear that they are making a difference,” Potter says.

The four-year academy within Southeast tries to expose students to as many health care careers as possible, he said.

Potter is starting a master’s degree in biology at the University of Nebraska. He did his undergraduate work at Albion College and has a master’s degree in educational leadership from UIS.

Potter received $1,400 and a crystal prize.

Other Educator of the Year finalists included Nathan Grieme, fourth grade teacher at Enos Elementary School; Jalene Hull, math teacher at Franklin Middle School; William Russell, instrumental/vocal music teacher at Lincoln Magnet and Amie Godefroid, fourth grade teacher at Lindsay Elementary School.

Winners of the Rising Star awards

The Rising Star Award, which honors three promising teachers who have worked at District 186 for four years or less, was presented to James Biggers, math teacher, at Southeast; Terrelle Jackson, English teacher at Lanphier and Emily Standley, social studies teacher at Lincoln Magnet. They each received $250 and a crystal award.

Contact Steven Spearie: (217) 622-1788; [email protected]; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

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