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Distinguished Secondary School Teaching Award

This award program, sponsored by the Office of the President with the cooperation of the School of Education and Social Policy, and supported by the Associated Student Government, recognizes the transforming power of high school teachers in our lives and our communities.

2025 Award Recipients

Stephanie Hill

Stephanie Hill

Stephanie Hill has taught beginning through AP French since 2012 at Glacier High School in Kalispell, Montana, where she has created and advised the school’s French Club and La Société Honoraire de Français, coadvised its Gay Straight Alliance, initiated schoolwide participation in International Education Week, and coordinated international activities and social media communications for the school and district. Under her leadership, Glacier High’s French program has been recognized as exemplary by the American Association of Teachers of French every year since 2016. Hill is also an adjunct professor of French at Flathead Valley Community College, codirector of the Kalispell Educator Excellence Program, and a French teacher for Montana Digital Academy. Previously she taught French for three years at middle schools in Janesville, Wisconsin. Honored as the Kalispell Education Foundation’s 2023 High School Teacher of the Year, Hill has been named a Northwest Montana Co-op Extra Mile Educator and one of Varsity Brands’ top 10 most spirited teachers in the nation. “When I sat down for my first college-level French class, I knew I would be OK because Madame Hill had prepared me for college and (more importantly) life,” says student nominator Simon Roston of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Hill received a BA in French from St. Norbert College and an MEd in curriculum and instruction from the University of Montana, both summa cum laude.

Jennifer Neff

Jennifer Neff has taught mathematics since 2015 at Alaska’s South Anchorage High School, where she is chair of the mathematics department, founder and sponsor of the Math Outreach Program, and leader of the Professional Learning Community as well as a professional development presenter and a mentor for new teachers. Previously she taught math at Anchorage’s Steller Secondary School. Neff has earned more than 50 professional development credits in addition to serving on committees for standards and book adoption and leading her school district’s adoption of the Illustrative Math curriculum. Since 2020 she has also served as an AP calculus reader for the College Board. Nominated by her principal for a Denali Award, she has received the Math Counts Coach Award and the student-nominated Community Recognition for Educational and Teaching Excellence Award. Neff “creates a community in her classroom, a space where students not only thrive—some for the first time—learning math but also one where those students go on to help others,” says student nominator Ava Earl of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. “She was hands down the best high school teacher I had.” Neff earned a BS in mathematics at Eastern Connecticut State University and an MA in teaching at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where she has also taught a required graduate course in math pedagogy.
Jennifer Neff
Julie Stoffel

Julie Stoffel

Julie Stoffel teaches music at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, where she has taught in the public schools since 2016. Choral director for grades 8–12, she has directed the Chamber Singers and multiple other choirs, organized and conducted annual performances at state and local music festivals, and vocal-directed the annual Lincoln High musical. After beginning her Wisconsin teaching career in 1994 at Tri-County Schools in Plainfield, she went on to teach for 15 years in Nekoosa Public Schools and for five years at Assumption Catholic Schools in Wisconsin Rapids. Director of the Lake Arrowhead Chorus from 2009 to 2023 and also active as a guest conductor and clinician, Stoffel has served as director of sacred music for Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church since 2013 and director of the Stevens Point Barbershoppers Northern Gateway Chorus since 2020. Named Skyward Central Wisconsin 2020 Teacher of the Year, she won Nekoosa Public Schools’ Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award and Assumption Catholic Schools’ Outstanding Teacher Award. “I will never be able to fully encapsulate her impact,” says student nominator Adrienne Scheide of the School of Education and Social Policy. “It is because of her that I and many others are truly ‘flying free.’” Stoffel earned a bachelor of music education from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and is expected to complete a master of music education this fall from the same institution.

Rita Thompson

Rita Thompson has taught English, social studies, and legal studies courses since 1997 at Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, where she founded the Reading Center and helped design the district’s law pathway dual-credit course with Eastern Illinois University. At Elk Grove High she has led professional development sessions, served on numerous committees, coached and sponsored the Mock Trial Team and the Shakespeare Slam, and won a national title as coach of the Lincoln Douglas Debate Team. Previously she was active as a member of the Illinois Bar. A repeat winner of District 214’s Outstanding Contribution to Education Award, she also won the Elk Grove High School Principal’s Award, the district’s Special Recognition Award, and an Illinois State Board of Education Those Who Excel Award of Meritorious Service. Thompson “believed in me when no one else did, not even myself,” says student nominator Kaylyn Ahn of the School of Education and Social Policy. “Because of her investment in me and the students around me, we were able to think of a future past high school.” A national board-certified teacher of English, Thompson received a BA in English with honors from the University of Michigan, a JD from the University of Illinois, an MSEd in secondary education from Northwestern University, and an MSEd in literacy education from Northern Illinois University.

Rita Thompson