This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Teacher Wins Classroom Hero Award

Former students nominate 38-year teaching veteran.

With 38 years teaching experience under his belt, Mike Pastiak has inspired and touched the hearts of countless students at Gower Middle School.

Earlier this year several of his students decided to thank him by submitting his name for consideration to a Heroes in the Classroom Award. The award is sponsored by Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., an employee benefits company based in Itasca. After reading the testimonials of the former students, Gallagher employees decided Pastiak was the epitome of a Hero in the Classroom.

Pastiak was presented with the award during the Oct. 19 Gower Board of Education meeting.

Find out what's happening in Burr Ridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"This is a real honor, but there are so many other teachers out there who are classroom heroes as well," said Pastiak, a physical education teacher.

Pastiak said over the years he has built a strong relationship with many of his students and continues to stay in touch with them.

Find out what's happening in Burr Ridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Brian Hutchins, a Gallagher representative, presented Pastiak with a multitude of gifts for the honor he received, including two tickets to a Chicago Bears game, a Bears' jersey with his name stitched on it, a $250 gift card to Office Max for school supplies and a check to the school district for $1,000.

Pastiak is one of 16 teachers in the Chicago area who won a Heroes in the Classroom award, Hutchins said.

"Some of those students are my best friends. I'm really touched they did this," Pastiak said.

Hutchins said the fact that it was Pastiak's former students who nominated him sealed the award for the Gallagher committee.

"It wasn't the school board or the administration. It was his former students and that did it for us," Gallagher said.

Pastiak wasn't the only teacher honored during the school board meeting. Several teachers were honored for bringing grant money into the school district, including Steve Pittman, the Gower Middle School band director who won two grants to bring professional musicians into the school to work with the students. Teachers brought in a combined $6,200 in grant money, said Steve Griesbach, the school board superintendent.

Kim Spaulding, a physical education teacher at Gower West, was recognized by the board for winning the IAHPERD Northeast District Teacher of the Year honor. Griesbach said he was proud of the work Spaulding has done in the school and said she was deserving of the award.

In addition to teacher awards, the board also discussed issues of cyber bullying. Several board members expressed concern over recent media reports about the rise of bullying on social networking sites like Facebook or Myspace. Griesbach said the schools do what they can when cyber bullying becomes an on campus problem.

"It's a challenge to find out what's being said on the social networks," he said. "Not every student in the district has made me their friend on Facebook."

He said there have been incidents when school administrators have discovered incidents of cyber bullying and it was dealt with. Griesbach said educators and parents have to work together to curb incidents of cyber bullying.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Burr Ridge