Rural educators are making an impact, and more people are taking notice. Growing up and now teaching in Olney, Illinois, Eric Combs was named 2020 Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education. He has walked a unique journey, as he attended the Richland County schools himself as a child, graduated from EIU, and then returned to carry on the legacy of his own band instructor at Richland County Middle School.
Combs teaches music and provides many students with a means of expression and belonging at school. He further supports his students by giving differentiated instruction, meeting each individual and their unique needs. However, Combs’ impact does not stop at Richland County. His years of experience have led to an accumulation of excellent resources, such as individual student tracking sheets, which are shared with over 4000 other educators across the country. Furthermore, Combs headed a fundraiser that has led to a new band program in Honduras.
Combs shared, “For the last 15 years, I’ve been thinking, ‘What can I do to make a difference?’ I’ve strived as hard as I can to make it good for my community and worldwide.” Moving forward, Combs will have access to share his insights and resources with more educators through workshops and conferences. We are proud to see this alumnus actively contributing both to our local and global schools!