August's WWEA Educator Spotlight

The Wheaton Warrenville Education Association (WWEA) would like to introduce Ms. Lisa Virgilio, a 3 year educator with 1 year experience in District 200. She is currently educating first graders at Sandburg Elementary School. Ms. Virgilio earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She volunteers her time as a Running Club sponsor, PTA Representative, and Battle of the Books facilitator at Sandburg.

Ms. Virgilio chose education as her profession because she has always loved working with students. She enjoys learning about their perspectives to positively guide them through their academic year. Her classroom instruction is guided by the curiosity and creative interests of her students and she takes great pride in seeing them show their best efforts in their work. When asked what being a teacher meant to her, she stated, “It allows me to positively impact students and enhance their love for learning. Their curiosity develops overtime, which allows them to become more open-minded to the curriculum and with each other.” Ms. Virgilio feels that being surrounded by positive colleagues and students helps her enjoy teaching every day. This positivity, she believes, is her greatest accomplishment as an educator. Together, with her students, they created a positive classroom atmosphere where her 6 year olds were all inclusive when they noticed students feeling left out. After multiple examples and demonstrations, Ms. Virgilio noticed an improvement in positive behavior choices and communication skills throughout the school year. She encourages appreciation for all students through positive reinforcement for treating classmates with kindness. If students are explicitly taught ways to treat one another or act, they will remember those feelings and actions as they travel through their school and lives.

Ms. Virgilio has exceptional creativity skills and strives to include all students and colleagues in the positive, fun school atmosphere. During the 2014/2015 school year, she created a holiday dance to “Jingle Bell Rock” for Sandburg’s staff to perform during their annual Holiday Sing-A-Long. One of her greatest memories of the previous school year took place in November during Sandburg’s Pennies for Pies event. This event encourages students to help those who would not enjoy a Thanksgiving meal or pie in our community by donating pennies. One of Ms. Virgilio’s students was so inspired by the program that he brought in his entire piggy bank, which totaled $47 because he believes in helping others.

Thank you, Ms. Virgilio, for sharing your academic and extracurricular passions with our District 200 students and instilling positive citizenship.