With so many deserving teachers, even in my district and my department, I am humbled and honored to receive this award. I’m so thankful for my students whose energy, creativity, and humor make this the best job in the world. My colleagues at Naperville Central and District 203 provide an atmosphere of community, support, and respect where teachers can take risks and thrive. My wife and family are steadfast in their support and have enhanced many mathematics and teaching discussions at home.

David Sladkey Naperville, IL | 7-12, Mathematics, 2019

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

David Sladkey has been teaching high school mathematics for 32 years. He has been at Naperville Central High School since 1994 and previously taught at Fenwick High School for six years. David was named Teacher of the Year for Naperville School District 203 in 2007. He currently teaches 9th-10th grade Blended Algebra 1 and Geometry. David is an ardent developer of engaging learning experiences, especially when it gets the students out of their seats and moving. He creates a culture of belonging in his classroom and encourages students to gain confidence in mathematics through curiosity, problem solving, and collaboration. David is committed to having students think critically and embrace mistakes, using digital tools to help support his student’s understanding of mathematics. He appreciates technology that impacts curriculum and coauthored the digital Algebra 1 textbook used in the district. David is the author of Energizing Brain Breaks, a Corwin Publications bestseller, and Engaging Teaching Tools. He shares his excitement about teaching on his blog, “Reflections of a high school math teacher.” As an advocate for student movement in the classroom, David is a frequent conference presenter at the state, national, and international levels. David received his B.A. in education and B.S. in mathematics at North Park University and his M.A. in curriculum and instruction at Northern Illinois University. He is certified to teach kindergarten through sixth grade elementary and 6-12 mathematics.

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