Each year, the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago presents two outstanding teachers with the prestigious Edward J. Lewis II, and Barbara O'Donnell LRE Teacher of the Year Awards. The awards are presented at CRFC's Annual Statewide Law Related Education Conference.

The Edward J. Lewis II Award for Illinois Law-Related Education Elementary School Teacher Of The Year is given to commemorate the late Edward J. Lewis II, a partner at the law firm of Jenner & Block who chaired CRFC's Lawyer Advisory Board. Mr. Lewis recruited over 100 volunteer attorneys from his firm alone, and led volunteer attorneys at Pickard Elementary School, where he was an outstanding teacher.



The Barbara O'Donnell Award for Illinois Law-Related Education High School Teacher Of The Year is given to commemorate the late Barbara O'Donnell, former coordinator of the Career Development Center for Law and Justice at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago.

The recipient of the Lewis award should be an elementary or middle school social studies teacher who integrates law into his/her curriculum. The recipient of the O'Donnell award should bea high school teacher of law, government or social studies who integrates law into his/her curriculum. The recipients should also share the characteristics that Mr. Lewis and Ms. O'Donnell brought to the classroom.

Teachers are nominated by their peers, students or parents, and are chosen by an award committee of the CRFC Board of Directors.

Edward J. Lewis, II Award Criteria

Barbara O'Donnell Award Criteria

How to Nominate a Teacher

Previous Teachers of the Year

Last updated: July 26, 2007

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