Illinois State University s Educational Administration and
Foundations department will present the Ben Hubbard Leadership Award to
State Superintendent of Education Christopher Koch at the annual spring
reception at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4, at the Doubletree Hotel in
Bloomington.
The Ben Hubbard Leadership Award recognizes the achievements of an Illinois
citizen who has promoted, championed or achieved one or more significant
goals benefiting education in Illinois. The award is named after Ben
Hubbard, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Illinois State University.
Hubbard served as both department chair for Educational Administration and
Foundations and dean of the College of Education before retiring in 1982. He
is remembered as an excellent teacher and researcher as well as an
influential voice in the formation of Illinois education policies and
legislation.
Koch has been a long-standing advocate on behalf of the children of
Illinois, particularly children with special needs. He has been with the
Illinois State Board of Education since 1994. Before being selected as the
state superintendent of Education, Koch served as interim superintendent,
assistant superintendent for Special Education and chief education officer.
Prior to his tenure with the ISBE, Koch worked for the U.S. Department of
Education s Office of Vocational and Adult Education and was a teacher.
Koch received his master s degree in education and human development and
doctoral degree in special education from George Washington University and
his bachelor s degree from Southern Illinois University.
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