The Will County Regional Office of Education has recognized Sharon Youngblood, an instructional coach at Mokena School District 159, as one of the first recipients of its Educators of Excellence Awards. The awards are given to educators in the county who have demonstrated notable skill and impact in their school communities.
The program honors one educator from Will County in each of ten categories, including classroom teachers, support staff, and innovation in education. Nominations were collected by the Regional Office of Education in November, after which a panel reviewed submissions to select three finalists per category. Dr. Lisa Caparelli-Ruff, Regional Superintendent, chose the final winners.
Youngblood was awarded in the Certified Student Support Staff category for her work at both Mokena Elementary School and Mokena Intermediate School.
Dr. Kristin Johnson, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction for Mokena School District 159, described Youngblood’s approach: “An instructional coach who truly embodies what it means to be a student-centered coach is Sharon as she keeps student learning at the heart of every conversation, decision, and action. Sharon consistently asks, ‘How will this impact students?’ and uses student data, work samples, and feedback to guide collaborative planning with teachers. She listens deeply, honors teachers’ expertise, and builds trusting relationships, creating a safe space for reflection and growth. During coaching cycles, Sharon co-designs lessons with clear learning targets, models strategies when needed, and helps analyze evidence of student understanding to adjust instruction.
She partners with educators to design flexible, rigorous learning experiences that support students who need additional assistance, challenge advanced learners, and ensure equitable access for all. By maintaining a steady focus on outcomes for students, Sharon empowers teachers to refine their practice in ways that lead to lasting improvements in student achievement and engagement. Her commitment to students extends beyond our own district as she shares best practices through state level conference presentations, published journal articles, and mentorship of fellow coaches across the county, ultimately broadening her influence on student success.”
Dave McAtee, principal at Mokena Intermediate School and nominator for Youngblood’s award candidacy said: “We are beyond thrilled for Sharon as she is a most deserving recipient of this award. Sharon plays an integral role on our math content teams. Her strong curricular insight, commitment to a student-centered approach, and thoughtful problem-solving mindset have strengthened our team’s ability to meet the diverse needs of all students. Her ability to analyze instructional practices, support colleagues, and keep student learning at the forefront makes her a strong instructional leader within our building. Sharon has also served on our Building Leadership Team where she helps guide decision-making and the development of school-wide goals.”
Youngblood will be recognized along with other county honorees at an awards ceremony scheduled for April 2.
Mokena School District 159 serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students in Will County and includes Mokena Elementary School as well as Mokena Intermediate School among its schools https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/. The district enrolled 1,531 students during the 2019-2020 school year https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/ with an average teacher salary of $61,802 before pension contributions; about 85 percent of teachers are women https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/. The district’s student population is primarily White (85 percent), with smaller percentages identifying as Hispanic (7.7 percent), Black (2.7 percent), or Asian (2.1 percent) https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
In terms of attendance rates during 2020–21 school year about three percent—46 out of more than 1,500 enrolled—were considered chronically truant by state standards https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/, significantly below Illinois’ statewide average chronic truancy rate of nearly ten percent.
Spending per pupil reached $23,197 in 2020 https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/, totaling over $35 million across all district operations.
