Three USD #116 teachers are recipients of a 2024 Shining Star Award from the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation (CUSF).
- Erin Claxon: music and choir teacher at Urbana Middle School,
- Les Kutz: art teacher at Dr. Williams Elementary,
- Felicia Tufano: English teacher at Urbana High School.
These teachers are nominated by their peers and exhibit exemplary service, extra effort, enthusiastic attitude, and innovative ideas that noticeably benefit their students.
Erin Claxon has taught music in the Urbana schools at both the elementary and middle school levels. While working at Dr. Williams Erin taught a jazz unit, bringing in a jazz group to play for her students, and collaborated with the school’s art teacher to create a fun and engaging fashion show in which the whole school participated. At Urbana Middle School, Erin has worked hard to grow the school’s choir program. Ms. Claxton has taught students how to read music and sing songs in various languages. She has added unusual and fun units to her classes such as having them learn about motion picture music and how to create their soundtracks for video clips. Erin’s nominator said that “students are excited to be a part of her classes and it shows by the growth in the choir department in the past 4 years.”
Les Kutz is a first-year visual arts teacher at Dr. Williams Elementary. Les’s nominator notes “Les has created a new way of doing art in the building. They have upended the usual instructional format by inviting students to sign up for different activities such as crocheting, sewing, and zine-making and coming in groups from different classrooms for those activities. Other teachers are eager to collaborate during social-emotional planning sessions as well to plan new projects.” According to Les’s nominator, “Students have responded enthusiastically to Les’s message of “be yourself” and treat every single person you see with genuine warmth, love, and respect.”
Felicia Tufano is an English teacher at Urbana High School. In addition to teaching 10 -12 grade English, Felicia is the creative force behind the school’s yearbook and student newspaper. In her classroom, she has created a vibrant hub of discussion, analysis, and discovery. Beyond the English classroom Felicia sees the yearbook and student newspaper as platforms for student voices to be heard, stories shared and memories to be cherished. Felicia has also led the school’s journalism class to an outstanding performance at the IHSA State Journalism Competition. Felicia’s nominator shared that in addition to everything she does for the students “Felicia is also a mentor to new teachers and a supportive colleague who willingly shares her expertise and resources with fellow teachers.”
All Shining Star recipients receive a $250 cash award and a $250 CUSF grant for their classrooms to be used in Fall 2024.
In addition, three USD #116 staff have also been awarded with a Super Star award. This award recognizes individuals who work in a support role whose exemplary service, extra efforts, and enthusiastic attitude noticeably benefit their district, school and/or co-workers.
- Mario Gamiz: Multilingual Teaching Assistant at Urbana High School
- Yolanda Fundemera: Teaching Assistant at Urbana High School
- Margaret Reyes: Attendance Secretary at Leal Elementary School
2024 Super Star individuals receive a $250 thank you award from CUSF for their positive contributions to the 2023-24 school year.
The mission of the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation is to invest in an equitable and empowered future for Champaign Urbana by strengthening the community’s commitment to our public schools, teachers, and students.