Danielle Vanek

Danielle Vanek of Machesney Park is an English teacher. She’s taught the past five of her 15 years of teaching at South Beloit’s Willowbrook Middle School. A fellow teacher nominated her, writing that, “she goes above and beyond for her students every day. She is always researching the new and improved ways of instruction. She also does an outstanding job relaying this information and educating her fellow staff members on all that she has learned.” Dr. Michael Plourde, who hired and supervised Danielle at two different schools shared that “the quality of her classroom instruction was a core reason for the academic success we experienced in both schools.” Danielle says she makes “the commitment each day to light the world of each and every one of my students. I light matches of curriculum, creativity and passion to illuminate the lanterns of safety, value and love that my students carry with them well into the future. Student learning begins with a spark. One small flicker of interest is all it takes to ignite the room with creativity and enthusiasm.” The theme of light pervades Danielle’s classroom and instruction. An individual who was in her fifth grade class 12 years ago also wrote a letter of recommendation because “still I recall instances where she sparked my brain not just to grow, but to want growth and seek it. In her class, I was taught to write, dream and to live and carry myself with substance, intention and integrity. It was clear even then that her lessons were not just for the classroom, but for life and that they came from a place of love and true desire to see us grow into respectable people.” Danielle lets students know early on that they are safe with her not just physically, but also safe to change their minds or explore new ideas and safe to fail and learn from mistakes. Observers remarked about how respectful her students were of her and of each other, supporting others’ responses and eagerly participating. The excitement about a book discussion and different points of view was contagious from the teacher to the students to the observers, who left wanting to read the whole book!