Across Champaign Unit 4 and Urbana School District 116, excellence shows up in countless ways every day and this year, it was reflected in dozens of heartfelt nominations submitted by grateful colleagues. From teachers and social workers to secretaries, bus drivers, and beyond, these nominations remind us that every role in our public [...]
CUSF announces its 2026 Super Star Award for Unit 4 and District 116 support staff and paraprofessionals. Our schools would simply not run as effectively or efficiently without the many supporting talents and expertise of these essential staff members. From multilingual teaching aides, student support advocates, office managers, food service assistants, hall monitors, [...]
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Each year, the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation (CUSF), honors a remarkable educator who exemplifies the very best of what it means to teach, lead, and serve. This year, that honor goes to Emily Walsh, Mathematics Instructional Coach at Champaign Central High School, as the recipient of the 2025 Mann-Hankel Teaching Excellence Award. The Mann-Hankel [...]
CLICK ON EACH COLUMN TO READ MORE ABOUT EACH OF OUR CHEER-WORTHY AREAS THIS MONTH! WATCH THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI HONOREE VIDEOS
Spring Fling 2025: A Celebration of Our Local Educators (picture gallery below) On Tuesday, April 30, the CU Schools Foundation hosted its 5th annual annual Spring Fling— celebrating the incredible teachers of Champaign Unit 4 and Urbana District 116. Held at Riggs Beer Company on High Cross Road in Urbana, this Teacher Appreciation event [...]
CUSF announces its 2025 Super Star Award for Unit 4 and District 116 support staff and paraprofessionals. Our schools would simply not run as effectively or efficiently without the many supporting talents and expertise of these essential staff members. From multilingual teaching aides, student support advocates, office managers, food service assistants, hall monitors, [...]
Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation (CUSF) will honor ten teachers in 2025 with the Shining Star Awards. Selected Unit 4 and District 116 teachers are nominated by their peers and exhibit exemplary service, extra effort, enthusiastic attitude, and innovative ideas that noticeably benefit their students. Unit 4 Schools are represented by Mandee Crow – [...]
Melissa Luffman, a Special Education teacher at Stratton Academy of the Arts, was surprised with the Mann-Hankel Teaching Excellence Award from the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation (CUSF) during her class on Thursday morning. This is the fourth year CUSF has provided this award, established by Barbara Mann and her husband Steven Hankel. The [...]
Urbana Middle School Visual Arts Teacher, Rusty Clevenger, is the 2024 recipient of the Gene Amberg Excellence in Teaching Endowed Chair from the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation. Clevenger will be presented with the award during class on Wednesday, May 15 at 12:25 p.m. Mr. Clevenger has been teaching in the Urbana School District [...]
