Jerry Mathis Young Teacher Award
Jerry served as President in 1985 and was a Professor of Speech and Theater at Sauk Valley College. He coached individual events for a while, but was much more active in oral interpretation festival competitions. Mathis published and presented several papers at national conferences on oral interpretation. He directed numerous outstanding theater productions during his tenure at Sauk Valley College. An Endowed scholarship in his name has been established at Sauk Valley College. Shortly after his death, the College also built a new state of the art theater and named it the Jerry Mathis Theater. He won several outstanding teaching awards at Sauk Valley College and was recognized nationally as an outstanding educator. The Mathis Award is presented to a current Illinois teacher who has taught five or fewer years in the field of communication or theatre and who has demonstrated outstanding potential for success in the discipline.
2023 Jerry Mathis Young Teacher Award Winner
Tyler Herron, Belleville West High School
Tyler Herron is an English Teacher, Assistant Speech Coach, and Contest Drama technical director at Belleville West High School in Belleville, IL. Entering his fourth year of education, he teaches both developing and struggling freshman readers as well as traditional senior-level instruction. As a teacher, he also sponsors the senior class and oversees their involvement with Homecoming, as well as emceeing the school's Homecoming Royalty and Prom Royalty ceremonies. As a novice coach, he has championed a State-winning Humorous Duet performance and has coached two State-finaling Performances in the Round. In addition, nationally, he has coached a Top 30 Duo Interpretation. He is excited to be coaching the activities that he once participated in as a student, and he is even more excited to say that he is now coaching and collaborating with the same people that ignited his love for and dedication to speech and theatre.
Watch Tyler's acceptance speech here: https://youtu.be/s6PDDYOT33k
Past Winners of the Jerry Mathis Young Teacher Award
1996 Rebecca Gray, Elk Grove Community High School
1997 Jennifer Zimmerman, Honnegah High School
1998 Linda Koop, Western Illinois University
1999 No award given
2000 Jennifer Svehla, Belleville East High School
2001 Amy Vokac, Cary-Grove High School
2002 Carrie Schreiber, Lincoln High School
2003 Lazaro Lopez, John Hersey High School
2004 Adam Jenkins, Belleville West High School
2005 Chelsea Cheatham, Lincoln Community High School
2006 Anna Oxboro, Washington High School
2007 Mark Adams, University High School
2008 No award given
2009 Dave Naze, Prairie State College
2010 Michael Greenstein, Glenbrook North High School
2011 Anthony Zoubek, Dundee-Crown High School/Bartlett High School
2012 Richard G. Jones, Eastern Illinois University
2013 Kacy Abeln, Kishwaukee College
2014 Jessica Vallaincourt, Elgin High School
2015 Anna Wright, Illinois State University
2016 Justin Matkovich, Downers Grove South High School
2017 Brian Rohman, University High School
2018 Bryan Asbury, Illinois Central College
2019 No Award Given
2020 No Award Given
2021 Kanoa Mulling, Homewood-Flossmoor High School
2022 Bill Lucio, Harper Community College
2923 Tyler Herron, Belleville West High School