Introducing Joshua Lerner: ISBE’s Co-Regional Teacher of the Year

Mr. Joshua Lerner describes his mom, a former elementary school teacher in New York City, as one of his first inspirations for becoming an educator. Then in college, he took an African-American history class on the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and the history of public education, which sparked his interest in education as a social phenomenon, and ultimately propelled him into the classroom. 

Mr. Lerner has been with the District for 16 years, and is currently serving as an English Learner Program Teacher (ELPT) at Pierce Elementary. In this role, he provides bilingual educational services across the entire school, and helps facilitate professional development and mentoring opportunities for staff. Mr. Lerner strives to help his students understand why school is important, and works to provide newcomer students with support and show them that they’re truly welcome within the school community at Pierce. 

Mr. Lerner was recently named Co-Regional Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), recognizing his outstanding work at Pierce and the District as a whole. Learn more about him below!

What is your approach to teaching?

I studied in Colombia last year, and I was really moved by a motto that a lot of teachers and community members there taught me: “Somos un equipo,”, which means “we're a team” in Spanish. Since then, I’ve incorporated this into my approach to teaching, and try to bring that spirit with me when I work with students and parents so that everyone knows we are on this educational journey together.

What was your reaction when you learned that you had been named Co-Regional Teacher of the Year?

I was really surprised! While my first instinct was to feel a little embarrassed, I was proud to be acknowledged for the work I’ve put in over my career. I also felt humble; many have worked really hard at this job, and I can think of many people who I work alongside who are just as deserving. 

What is one of your fondest memories of teaching?

One of my favorite stories is of a student who I taught in my second year. I'm a musician, and he was a really excellent drummer, so whenever he and his friends would play in the talent show, they would invite me to play with them. When I started working at Pierce, he was attending Senn High School just up the road. He came to my after-school music program on Fridays to mentor some of our middle school drummers. It was cool to be able to work together in that way, almost ten years after he was my student. Het now works as a professional musician. It has been very special to be able to follow his trajectory.

What keeps you coming back to teach at Pierce year after year?

It’s the people - the individuals you work with at a public school. There's nothing quite like it! You get the chance to work with all sorts of people that you would never cross paths with in another type of job, and you all are working together toward the same goal. Whether it's your co-workers, your students, or their families, being able to have those interactions every day, watch people grow, and celebrate with them is the thing that makes working at a school so special. 

What advice do you have for aspiring educators?

The first thing that comes to mind is to find a mentor. With how hard teaching is getting, especially in the first few years, having a mentor who can walk alongside you can really help you and your career. As I've gotten older, it has become more important to me to look out for newer teachers to provide mentorship whenever possible.