The Best High School Teachers in New Lenox

and announced the teachers of the year for 2011-12 in a news release.

Every year, administrators invite teachers to nominate a colleague who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help students succeed.

David Luebke, a special services teacher at Central, and Jeff Render, a social studies teacher at West, received the honor. Read below for more information from the District 210 news release.

Who's your favorite teacher in New Lenox? Tell us in the comments. 

David Luebke

• School: Lincoln-Way Central
• Teaches: Special services
• Experience: 12 years in Lincoln-Way as a special education teacher and coach. Wrestling coach for 10 years and football coach for two. He also serves as a dean.
• Education: Received his bachelor's degree in science for special education from Illinois State University, and his master's degree in education administration from Governors State University.

Luebke is very involved in the school's student credit recovery program, which helps students who fall behind in credits to graduate. Students who need extra help to earn their credits are told they can come in before school for tutoring.

What administrators said: “Lincoln-Way District 210 talks about going that extra mile to improve student achievement, Dave Luebke is that teacher. He received this award because of his commitment to students,” principal Steve Provis said.

What Luebke said: “My favorite part of teaching is working with kids that need extra help, then seeing them be successful,” Luebke said. "You do it for the kids. The high school diploma gives a kid a chance.”

Jeff Render

• School: Lincoln-Way West
• Teaches: Special science
• Experience: 9 years in Lincoln-Way as a social scienceteacher and coach. He serves as a dean and has coached baseball. Faculty adviser for the Fishing Club, announcer for football games, basketball games and pep assemblies. 
• Education: Received his bachelor's degree in science for history from the University of Illinois, and his master's degree in education administration from Olivet Nazarene University.

Besides being a great teacher, Render juggles coaching, creating the Fishing Club and being the "voice of Lincoln-Way West sports." 

What administrators said: "Jeff is available for his students outside of the classroom, running review sessions before and after school as well as on the weekends. He does all of this enthusiastically even while juggling his other school commitments such as being a dean, coaching baseball, sponsoring extra-curricular activities, and being the ‘voice of Lincoln-Way West’ at sporting events," principal Monica Schmitt said. 

What Render said: "I want them to be interested in learning the big picture, the ideas of the event, not just the list of facts, but ‘why’ an event in history happened. They need to learn the information they can take with them for the future, not just the points and single facts for today."