South Elementary Art Teacher Honored by Star 105.5 and Home State Bank as "Teacher of the Month"

Home State Bank and Star 105.5 FM recently honored South elementary art teacher Sue Jensen as the November Teacher of the Month.

A District 47 employee for 10 years, Jensen has taught art at South elementary for the past three years, instilling creativity and a passion for the arts in all students. Prior to her experience at South, Jensen taught art at other D47 elementary schools including North, Woods Creek, West and Glacier Ridge. She also coordinates the district art show every year at Lakeside Legacy Arts Park in May. Besides her passion for the arts, Jensen is actively involved with local environmental causes and serves on the board of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and sponsors the fifth grade recycling club at South.

According to Jensen, “To me, being an artist and being concerned about the environment go hand in hand. They are both very much about looking, observing and truly seeing what is around us.”

Every year South’s recycling club students work on a variety of special projects under Jensen’s leadership. Last year the club made a video highlighting the importance of the three Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) and created a replica of Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” out of recycled bottle caps for Earth Day. Last year Jensen even led a group of former South students in a Crystal Lake parade dressed in Styrofoam and a plastic tutu, collecting recyclables from spectators.

“What was most exciting to me about being chosen for this recognition is that it solidified to me that people in McHenry County value the arts and the beautiful environment in which we live in,” said Jensen. “I am thrilled about the shout-out for District 47 and for the importance of art education. I just do what I do because I love it.”

Teacher of the Month contest winners receive $100 and are automatically entered into Home State Bank’s Teacher of the Year award announced at the end of the school year. For more information about the program or to nominate a favorite teacher, search keyword “teacher” on the Star 105 website or visit http://www.star105.com//common/more.php?m=33&r=4.