Arlington Heights teacher ‘speechless’ after winning ‘Oscars’ of teaching
BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN Staff Reporter/rhussain@suntimes.com November 9, 2011 2:10PM
Teacher, Bradley Abel of Hersey H.S. received a $25,000 Milken Educator Award at a surprise schoolwide assembly in Arlington Heights . After the announcement of his name, he seemed to be the last to suspect he was the recipient of the prestigious award. | Al Podgorski~Chicago Sun-Times
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Updated: December 13, 2011 8:32AM
Once Bradley Abel learned that neither Oprah Winfrey nor the “Twilight” actors were making appearances at John Hersey High School’s surprise pep assembly as students had surmised, he turned to a colleague and listed all the teachers he thought might be getting an award.
Then the 30-year-old heard his name.
“Shut up,” the substitute teacher Abel had been talking to screamed as the dumfounded freshmen social studies instructor stood up Wednesday morning.
And for awhile, the normally talkative Abel did exactly that.
“I’m finally speechless,” Abel said after he was told he is this year’s Illinois recipient of the Milken National Educator Award — often referred to as the “Oscars” of teaching.
Cheering students crammed in the bleachers of the Arlington Heights’ school’s gym gave Abel a standing ovation when he was given a $25,000 prize for his classroom efforts that have led to increased student participation in Advanced Placement classes and improved AP scores.
“This is just an amazing thing. I’m in complete shock,” Abel said, flanked by his peers, past award recipients and Illinois State Board of Education and Milken Family Foundation officials.
Abel, a Buffalo Grove native and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduate, thanked his colleagues and “hundreds” of students he has inspired for the last nine years. The Hersey girls soccer coach also credited his teacher parents and lawyer brother for instilling in him a zeal for history and desire to work with children.
“I’m completely honored, surprised and shocked. It’s almost like a surreal experience,” Abel said following the half hour assembly.
Abel said he encourages his students to take interest in current events throughout the world.
“I have such a passion for it [social studies], and I think if I show the kids that I have passion for it, hopefully a little bit of that will rub off on them,” he said.
The dedicated Abel didn’t have huge plans for celebration Wednesday given that he had parent-teacher conferences in the evening.
And his plans with the big bucks?
“I’m going to look at a little bit and then hopefully make a decision, [maybe] save it or invest it,” the smiling Abel said.
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