Twilight Parade Grand Marshals Chosen

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Two award-winning teachers have been selected as grand marshals of this year’s Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade. 

Josh Stumpenhorst, a sixth-grade language arts and social science teacher at Naperville’s Lincoln Junior High School, and Annice Brave, a high school English and journalism instructor in Alton, will lead the parade when it steps off this Thursday evening at six o’clock.  Both are immediate past recipients of the Illinois State Board of Education’s prestigious Teacher of the Year award. 

“The Illinois State Fair is Family Fun for Everyone,” State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick said.  “But, along with the fun comes a great opportunity to learn, and the fair strives to both entertain and educate its visitors.  Our grand marshals embody this spirit and were chosen to represent the teachers throughout Illinois who challenge and inspire our youth every day.”
 
Stumpenhorst, a graduate of North Central College who holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, is the reigning Teacher of the Year.  He is a student-centered teacher noted for his ability to reach and engage students of all skill levels.  He also is more than willing to share his strategies, creating an online teaching blog that thousands of educators have used to improve classroom instruction.   

Brave was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2011 for her work to develop hands-on learning experiences and for the extra hours she routinely devotes to her students.  During her tenure, Brave has started a student radio program through a partnership with a local community college, a program that gives students an opportunity to get on-air broadcasting experience, and created a media class that combines writing and technology.   She arrives at school an hour early several days a week to help students on radio production and spends her lunch hour in the classroom so students may work on the school newspaper during their study halls.
 
The Twilight Parade begins at the corner of 9th Street and North Grand Avenue and ends inside the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  For more information, please visit www.illinoisstatefair.info. The Illinois State Fair runs Friday, Aug. 10 through Sunday, Aug. 19.