Bryan Zingrebe Evergreen Park Community makes his best efforts to make his science lessons, who are alive for students, including scientific examples that can understand with struggling student concepts that more advanced students seem challenging, such as showing gases with automobile analogs.
“When Ges comes in contact with low temperatures, they contract and take less space in a container,” Zingrebe said. “So when the pressure of a low tire in a car changes light in winter, it is not necessary that the tire has lost the air, but that gas should be added to the tire. It is the application of something you see in real life that we can connect directly to our classroom.”
Those types of interactions are among the reasons that Zingrebe was recently named excellent initial career teacher by the Illinois State Board of Education, which included one of the 15 teachers in Illinois to be included in the winning 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year Corort.
Senior Samantha Ricks was shifted by Zingrebe teaching in his AP Chemistry Class last year that he wrote a recommended letter to support his application for the award. Zingrebe also came highly recommended by Megan Shilo, Course Director and Chairman of Michael Thomas, Department of Science.
“I just wrote about how she was a wonderful teacher and how much I enjoyed in her class,” Ricks said, which is part of the school’s leadership team program, of which Zingreb is a sponsor. “We do a lot of fun labs and projects. This is a great way to finish the day. ,
Ricks also said that Zingrebe had a habit to reach every student.
“Mrs. Zingrebe teaches it in a way that everyone can understand,” he said.
Brian Zingrebe, a teacher at Evergreen Park Community High School, received flowers from his colleagues after winning the state’s outstanding initial career teacher award. Zingrebe has taught in school since 2020. (EPCHS)
Zingrebe notice when students may require additional assistance and that Spanish-speaking students could be seen quickly, sometimes it was difficult to learn because they were busy translating the concepts between Spanish and English.
“This is a barrier to their learning experience,” Zingrebe said. “I just wanted to gain a better idea about what his learning experience was.”
So Zingrebe recruited a dozen other teachers and all of them earned an English as a second language support to help bilingual students teach.
“This would mean more support for them throughout the day,” he said.
It is beyond the inclusive class. As a track and field and cross country coach, she encourages students to participate, even if they are not the most athletic or talented.
“We try to encourage students to embrace the development mindset,” he said. “We tell the students that they can grow at their own pace.”
She also helps with the bridge program, preparing students for high school, which require more help in learning mathematics and English.
Zingrebe said that teaching was a natural fit for her because she likes to give advice. In her spare time, she enjoys reading books like “Harry Potter” and also prefers non-fiction books like “The Amar Life of Hanrita Lachs”, as she likes to learn about people, science and medicine.
She still enjoys Star Wars films.
“They remind me of my father, and this is someone who is really valuable in my life,” Zingrebe said.
Jennis is a freelance reporter for the Numan Daily Southtown.