Donna DeVito, a teacher at Madison Elementary School in Hinsdale, has been honored with the 2026 Elliot Judd Outstanding Teacher Award by the Illinois Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages – Bilingual Education.
The purpose of the award is to honor an ITBE member who demonstrates the qualities exemplified by Elliot Judd, who died in 2008 and exemplified the characteristics of an exceptional educator and demonstrated outstanding commitment to the field of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, according to the ITBE.
Karen O’Connor, communications director for Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Elementary District 181 said the award is a powerful testament to DeVito’s commitment to multilingual education and the exceptional quality of teaching professionals across the district.
O’Connor said DeVito has served Madison School students for nine years, bringing a wealth of experience gained from her prior work as an English as a Second Language teacher in bilingual and ESL classrooms in Cicero Elementary District 99.
In District 181, DeVito works as a resource teacher, providing small pull-out groups focused on developing students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, and often pushing into classrooms, O’Connor said.
“Her teaching is characterized by an outstanding commitment to project-based learning that connects her students to the world around them,” she said, adding that DeVito’s innovative projects have included creating wristbands for refugees, gathering school supplies, making teddy bear buddies for refugee students, and sending postcards of hope for refugee kids overseas.
“We are incredibly proud to have Ms. DeVito representing our district,” O’Connor said.
Madison Principal Katherine Zulauf said DeVito is an educator who makes everyone around her better.
“She has an incredible way of seeing the whole child and making every student feel known, valued, and capable,” Zulauf said. “Donna pours her heart into supporting our multilingual learners and their families, and her impact reaches far beyond the classroom.
“She is thoughtful and deeply committed to her work, and this recognition could not be more deserved. We are so incredibly lucky to have her at Madison, and I couldn’t be prouder to see her honored with this award.”
DeVito modestly said that she is “so fortunate to have the best teaching job in the world.”
“This award validates my passion and advocacy for teaching multilingual learners,” she said. “This award truly belongs to my students and their families because of their desire to be in this country and be successful.”
The annual Elliot Judd Outstanding Teacher Award dates back to 2014.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
