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Eureka High School teacher wins state honor

Posted October 04, 2007 11:00 pm

Clare Jellick

Clare Jellick can be reached at (309) 686-3112 or cjellick@pjstar.com.

Eureka High School teacher Matt O'Hanlon might just wear his lucky pants every day from now on.

The science teacher and assistant football coach wears them on game days and other times when he feels like he needs some extra luck.

When he wore them Friday, O'Hanlon found out he had won a state teaching award and $10,000.

"This morning I woke up and I thought the best thing that was going to happen to me today was we were going to win this football game (tonight)," O'Hanlon said Friday, upon being named Wal-Mart's Teacher of the Year for Illinois.

The 34-year-old teacher receives $10,000 for use within the school and will move on to compete for the national title. He previously received $1,000 as a local winner.

Wal-Mart's Teacher of the Year program begins each February when each Wal-Mart store accepts nominations from parents, educators and school children for local honors. Nominations are compiled and each of the company's 4,000-plus locations surprises a local teacher with a $1,000 donation to their school in May.

Local winners then have the option to complete a comprehensive application form for the state winner phase. All 51 state winners, as well as a winner from Puerto Rico, are automatically considered for the national Teacher of the Year award to be announced in November.

O'Hanlon had no clue he had won the state award until a surprise ceremony at the school Friday. School official kept the news under wraps for weeks and didn't let most students know about the ceremony until just an hour before it occurred.

The teacher was lured into the auditorium, which was filled with students, staff, family and local officials. He didn't know what was happening until he saw the award title on a large projection screen, along with his name and picture.

"I was half way down the aisle, looking for a seat and then I looked up at the (screen) and said 'hey, that's me,'" said O'Hanlon, of Metamora.

The teacher, who has spent 11 years at Eureka High School, is known for his modesty and preference for avoiding the limelight. He stood somewhat awkwardly on stage, eyes glancing downward, as people spoke during the ceremony.

"It's that adage that good things happen to good people," said principal Richard Wherley. "That's a good role model for people to see. He's so humble and doesn't want any attention ... if we would have told him (about the ceremony) he would have said 'no.'"

O'Hanlon said he feels weird about receiving the distinction, considering there are other teachers at the school who work as hard as he does.

"I think there's a lot of people who are deserving. I'm lucky to have a wonderful group of kids to work with every year here in Eureka. Other than that, it doesn't feel like work," he said.

Football player Matt Schaidle described O'Hanlon as enthusiastic and energetic. He said the teacher devotes all his time to meeting with students, whether it be to help with homework or to go over football plays.

"Someone's always in (his room). He never turns anyone away. He is always for the student," said Schaidle, a student teacher aide for O'Hanlon.

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