Butler School District 53 Director of Student Services Dr. LaTonya Wilks has been recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with an Award of Excellence through the Those Who Excel Awards program for her commitment to all students within the Butler School District 53 community.
The annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards celebrate incredible classroom teachers, administrators, teams, volunteers, and school support personnel who have made lasting impacts on the students, families, and fellow educators in their school communities. The Award of Excellence, the most prestigious of the Those Who Excel honors, recognizes educators who have demonstrated a commitment to equity and to the success of all students. Awardees are lifelong learners who connect their schools to the community at large and who inspire other education professionals within and beyond their schools.
Dr. Wilks has been an instrumental administrator within the Butler School District 53 community since June 2021. She advocates for all children, spearheads the Instructional Learning Classroom initiative, implements the Multi-Tiered System of Intervention Supports throughout the district, leads the student services department, which provides services to 26% of the district's student population, and is bringing the Special Olympics program to our district this spring.
"LaTonya is a truly remarkable administrator who consistently makes decisions for the betterment of all students within our school district. Her commitment and dedication to our students, faculty, and staff is noteworthy, and I am proud of her statewide recognition," said Dr. Paul O'Malley, Superintendent of Schools.