Secondary Ed Writing Contest Winners

By Lila Birchfield

Liza May Caso, the first-place writing contest winner in the grades 9-12 division. She is pictured with Jeff Howard, Principal of Lisle High School.

Congratulations to the teachers and students who participated in the ITBE Grades 6-12 Writing Competition. It is an opportunity for English Language Learners to share events which have shaped their young lives before and after their arrival to the United States. Each year, these young authors submit thought-provoking essays. The winners for 2020-2021 are as follows:

2020-2021 ITBE Writing Contest Winners

Grades 6-8

First Place $100:              Fatima Saif
Lincoln Junior High School
Skokie, IL
Teacher: Ms. Kristin Wagner

Second Place $75:          Amaani Syeda
Lincoln Junior High School
Skokie, IL
Teacher: Ms. Kristin Wagner

Grades 9-12

First Place $100:              Liza May Caso
Lisle High School
Lisle, IL
Teacher: Ms. Joanna Ng

Second Place $75:           José E. Zavala López
                                          Lyons Township High School
LaGrange, IL
Teacher: Mr. Francisco Gamboa

Third Place $50:              Damairy Morales
Mather High School
Chicago, IL
Teacher: Ms. Maria Elena Balanzategui-Aguilar

Christopher Sumner, author of Popa Pop-a-Lot’s Fantastic Adventures, discussed how he followed his dream and wrote his book. His book’s message is “dream big” and “believe in yourself like no other.” Mr. Sumner visits schools in the Chicago area and encourages teachers and students to follow their dreams. He was our guest at the Grades 6-12 Writing Contest Awards Ceremony on February 27. Mr. Sumner congratulated the young writers and shared his own experiences as a writer and as an entrepreneur. The students, their families, and their teachers were inspired by Mr. Sumner’s infectious enthusiasm.


Secondary Ed Writing Contest Winners By Lila Birchfield Liza May Caso, the first-place writing contest winner in the grades 9-12 division. She is pictured with Jeff Howard, Principal of Lisle High School. Congratulations to the teachers and students who participated in the ITBE Grades 6-12 Writing Competition. It is an opportunity for English Language Learners to share events which have shaped their young lives before and after their arrival to the United States. Each year, these young authors submit thought-provoking essays. The winners for 2020-2021 are as follows: 2020-2021 ITBE Writing Contest Winners Grades 6-8 First Place $100: Fatima Saif Lincoln Junior High School Skokie, IL Teacher: Ms. Kristin Wagner Second Place $75: Amaani Syeda Lincoln Junior High School Skokie, IL Teacher: Ms. Kristin Wagner Grades 9-12 First Place $100: Liza May Caso Lisle High School Lisle, IL Teacher: Ms. Joanna Ng Second Place $75: José E. Zavala López Lyons Township High School LaGrange, IL Teacher: Mr. Francisco Gamboa Third Place $50: Damairy Morales Mather High School Chicago, IL Teacher: Ms. Maria Elena Balanzategui-Aguilar Christopher Sumner, author of Popa Pop-a-Lot’s Fantastic Adventures, discussed how he followed his dream and wrote his book. His book’s message is “dream big” and “believe in yourself like no other.” Mr. Sumner visits schools in the Chicago area and encourages teachers and students to follow their dreams. He was our guest at the Grades 6-12 Writing Contest Awards Ceremony on February 27. Mr. Sumner congratulated the young writers and shared his own experiences as a writer and as an entrepreneur. The students, their families, and their teachers were inspired by Mr. Sumner’s infectious enthusiasm.
Spring 2021 - Spring 2021