News

Unit 4 school psychologist Kevin Farrell named Illinois practitioner of the year

Unit 4 school psychologist Kevin Farrell named Illinois practitioner of the year

He also plays a key role in prevention and crisis intervention efforts as a member of the district’s Crisis Team. Photo: Shutterstock


CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — Champaign Unit 4 School District school psychologist Kevin Farrell has been named the Illinois School Psychologists Association (ISPA) Practitioner of the Year, the district announced Wednesday.

The Practitioner of the Year Award is ISPA’s highest honor for practicing school psychologists and recognizes outstanding professional achievement statewide. Farrell was nominated by Carrie Busey Elementary School Principal Daniel Nock and Unit 4 Special Education Administrator Jacquelyn Teague.

In her nomination letter, Teague highlighted Farrell’s commitment to students, families and schools across the district, describing him as an advocate, mentor and leader who models integrity, compassion and professionalism. She cited his strengths in data-driven decision-making, collaboration and culturally responsive practices, as well as his leadership on building- and district-level Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) teams.

Farrell supports students’ academic growth, social-emotional learning and mental health from early childhood through the district’s Young Adult Program. He also plays a key role in prevention and crisis intervention efforts as a member of the district’s Crisis Team.

His work emphasizes strong partnerships among schools, families and the broader community to support student success.

“Kevin consistently goes above and beyond for students and colleagues,” Nock said. “His dedication, leadership and ability to bring people together around student success truly set him apart.”

Recent Headlines

14 hours ago in Lifestyle, Trending

With caviar McNuggets and heart-shaped pizza, fast food chains hope to win Valentine’s diners

It's a tale as old as time, or at least as old as TikTok: chicken nuggets lovingly topped with a dab of caviar. McDonald's is embracing the trend this Valentine's Day with a limited-time McNugget Caviar kit. The free kit, which will be available on McNuggetCaviar.com on Feb. 10, pairs a one-ounce tin of Paramount's Siberian sturgeon caviar with a $25 McDonald's gift card to buy McNuggets.

14 hours ago in Olympics, Sports

Lindsey Vonn is ‘confident’ she can race at Olympics despite ruptured ACL in left knee

Lindsey Vonn has done this before. And succeeded. The 41-year-old American skiing standout is "confident" she can compete at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics despite a torn ACL from a crash four days ago.

22 hours ago in Olympics, Sports

Speedskater Erin Jackson, bobsledder Frank Del Duca picked as US flagbearers for Winter Olympics

Speedskater Erin Jackson already has made history, as the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Olympics. Bobsledder Frank Del Duca is a sergeant in the Army, hailing from a family with deep Italian roots. They might be the perfect pair to lead the U.S. into the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

22 hours ago in National, Trending

‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie asks for prayers to help bring her missing mom home

"Today" show host Savannah Guthrie is asking for prayers to help bring home her 84-year-old mother, whom authorities in Arizona believe was kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken against her will.

2 days ago in National

Black History Month centennial channels angst over anti-DEI climate into education, free resources

In the 100th year since the nation's earliest observances of Black History Month — which began when scholar Carter G. Woodson pioneered the first Negro History Week — celebrations will go on. The current political climate has energized civil rights organizations, artists and academics to engage young people on a full telling of America's story.