Justin Saichek

Teacher: Justin Saichek

Subject: English Language Arts

School: West Middle School (Rockford)

Teaching experience: 9 at WMS, 12 total

What did a nominator or recommender say about this teacher?

• “ Saichek is willing to go a million extra miles for his students. He is a caring and compassionate person. When most people wanted to count my daughter out, he counted her IN and chose to explore how her mind works. He wanted to help her see her potential as opposed to dwelling on her shortcomings. He is a very uplifting teacher and should receive recognition for his passion of teaching.” – nomination from a student’s parent
• “Justin’s students connect to his lessons because they understand why what he is teaching is critical for their success. Rather than the mere regurgitation of content, his students are exposed to an experience powerful enough to break cycles of marginalization. Justin routinely proves to students what they are capable of beyond what they originally imagined, as his instructional practices are rooted in empowerment, liberation of one’s mind and exploring endless possibilities.”

What does this teacher say? Justin’s students are predominantly African American. “This reality makes racial equity a central concern in my daily practice.” Beyond just selecting works by Black authors, he also incorporates texts from non-Black authors “to draw important cross-cultural connections. Placing Black creators at the center challenges the traditional underrepresentation that many students have experienced and provides a richer, more affirming curricular experience.” He has developed a critical equity lens which he uses to evaluate curricular materials, leading to his replacing resources including disparaging references to Black hair or that perpetuate white service narratives. “These decisions ensure that students engage with literature that reflects, not distorts, their identities and experiences.”

What else do we know? Justin coordinates the school spelling bee and performed at the NAACP National Day of Racial Healing in 2025. Restorative practices are central to his classroom culture and he mentors colleagues in adopting them. He not only teaches at West Middle School, but also is a former West student.