The winner of this year’s Teacher of the Year award brings equal parts style and brilliance. The prestigious award was given to Ankur Joshi, BC Calculus teacher.

He was awarded this distinction on Thursday morning during Niles North’s annual Teacher Appreciation Week festivities. Joshi is the new leader of a line of esteemed Teacher of the Year recipients, including last year’s recipient, Debora Meyer, Renee Scott (2012) and John Kretsos (2011).

When asked how he felt when he received the award, Joshi said, “It feels a little strange in that I don’t take praise well. The award is secondary to the letters and gratitude that my students and colleagues offer me.  Overall, I’m very flattered and feel honored to be recognized by the students here at Niles North.”

Joshi, an alumni of Niles West High School, graduated from Loyola University with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Statistics and Philosophy. He was originally a pre-med student. However, after completing all of his pre-med requirements, he decided to not continue that route. Instead he completed his masters in Pure Mathematics where he earned a Departmental Honors in Mathematics. He also received his masters in Curriculum and Instruction. Joshi worked at Niles North as a Mathematics Teacher for the past 10 years where he taught different derivations of math like Algebra, Pre-Calculus, and AP Calculus AB and BC.

Joshi is also the sponsor of many different student clubs and organizations like Student Government and Math Team.  He also has been involved in CSSI and EPAC (school-wide committees).

Not only is he really dedicated to his students but also to his colleagues.  Joshi has served as the Departmental Representative for the Math Department and as a Teacher’s Union Executive Board member for the past three years.

Despite Joshi’s extreme involvement, he never fails to make time for his students. He is always available before school, after-school and during his free periods. Joshi is the type of teacher who is willing to give up his lunch period to simply help you understand a BC Calc free-response question.

Selecting Teacher of the Year is a very intense process. First, students nominate teachers who have inspired them. Then all of these nominations are looked through. Teachers who have received the highest numbers of nominations are then observed by different members of the Teacher of the Year Committee. Once all of the teachers have been observed and interviewed, the judges interview different students who have been taught by the teachers. Finally, the judges gather up and decide on a teacher.

“It  is always so hard to pick a teacher for this award since all of them are so worthy of it! All of the teachers that have been nominated are extremely exceptional, and inspirational.” One of the judges on the Teacher of the Year said.

Joshi will deliver his Teacher of the Year speech at the 49th Annual Awards of Distinction ceremony on Tuesday, May 13.