Shelbyville Community School District

Greg Harkins | ISBE 2026 Those Who Excel Award

“Coach” Greg Harkins has received the AWARD of EXCELLENCE in the Classroom Teacher category by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Please join us in celebrating & thanking Mr. Harkins for his recognition as an example of an exceptional educator.

Mr. Harkins is invited to the 52^nd Annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet, where he will be presented with his award certificate and celebrated along with 450 other outstanding educators from across the state. This event will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

Mr. Harkins lives in our community and has served (15) years in the Shelbyville School District. His wife, Kate Harkins also serves as an Elementary Teacher in the Shelbyville Schools. Mr. Harkins also has (4) children and all of them are currently students in our schools.

Mr. Harkins serves as an Elementary PE Teacher at Main Street Elementary School. He plans Units of PE and connects the skills to application. He has taken extra efforts to secure activity options for our kids such as "9-Square in the Air” & “Ga-Ga Ball.” He advocated for 4-Square courts on the playground and was even willing to help paint them. He wants our kids happy and moving. 

Our school has benefited greatly from Greg Harkins serving on our elementary school team; specifically, in areas focused on health, connections to the outdoors & developing struggling youth in an educational setting.

Mr. Harkins serves as a positive male role model for students. He also recognizes that these games & sports get our kids active but they also reinforce other essential skills for happy and successful adults such as dealing with failure, positive peer interactions with friendly competition and more. He connects each aspect to the “3 S’s”: Safety, Sound & Sportsmanship. Mr. Harkins is known by students & staff as “Coach.” Coach builds relationships with kids. They know he cares about them; they know he sees them. He serves a role of SEL RtI which is another caring adult that knows who they are and frequently checks-in. He reinforces SEL development such as self-regulation. This role demands he have consistent communication & coordination with the SEL Teacher & the Behavior TEAM. He knows the students, their background and their goals. Even when he is in a role associated with accountability for student behavior, he is identified as a preferred staff member frequently by students. These roles and more showcase his commitment to the success of all students.

An example of Mr. Harkins’ innovation & positive impact on the school & community at large is a special PE Unit: “The Great Outdoors.” Coach Harkins exposes our students to “The Great Outdoors” with activities such as setting up a tent, geocaching & archery. Mr. Harkins had the vision & the drive to make it real by working with administration and even securing a grant to fund the equipment. This unique unit for the modern school does lead into a culminating experience for our kids. First Grade students visit the Damn West Beach with a focus on water safety and beach fun such as sandcastle building. Second Grade students visit Coon Creek Recreation Area for geocaching, primitive shelter building, nature art & more. Third Grade students visit Lithia Springs for exposure to campfire safety & camping etiquette as well as a casting competition with prizes and even fishing. Many Students catch the very first fish of their life on this special day. The experience demanded a “win-win” partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers to provide this special day, “Corps Day.” The goal is that we “spark” something & kids go home & want to go camping or fishing or hiking & also bring their family in to share some core memories as a family around a campfire or on a bank fishing together. Being in nature has many benefits. We have all heard about “kids these days.” They are on their devices too much. Well, Mr. Harkins decided to stop complaining & do something about it. We want our kids active. We want them in nature. We want them with their families & interacting. This special day also includes a partnership with the Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance. Students learn about fish habitats & even build structures called, “Lake Shelbyville Cubes.” This special unit & experience did earn Main Street Elementary School special recognition with the “Every Kid Outdoors” federal initiative. We are a model school for the United States in connecting kids to the outdoors. 

Mr. Harkins is also the Shelbyville High School Bass Fishing Coach. He has been very successful leading the program with student interest, participation and performance success. Recently, Mr. Harkins was involved and an “essential player” representing the school district & coordinating with the Mayor & City Council as well as the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) to submit a bid & secure a contract to host the IHSA State Bass Fishing Tournament on Lake Shelbyville. This brings prestige to our lake and schools as well as commerce to the community.

Mr. Harkins also proposed, created and leads the Wellness TEAM. This is a TEAM of teachers focused on overall well-being of the students & staff. They plan, communicate & implement “Wellness Challenges” throughout the school year. There are six “Wellness Challenges.” They focus on topics such as Hydration, Physical Activity, Nutrition, Gratitude, screen time awareness and even “The Great Outdoors” which connects to the PE Unit & “Corps Day” experience. Each challenge has an initial lesson on the topic, what it looks like and why it is important. We track progress & celebrate school-wide. Students & staff who participate are rewarded with options such as an extra PE session with Coach or a build-your-own healthy snack mix. Recently, our Kindergarten – third grade TEAM celebrated achievement with our Physical Activity Challenge. With three hundred seventy-five students, two hundred forty-two participated & earned three thousand fifty-seven “Physical Activity badges.” With fewer than fifty staff members, three million five hundred twenty thousand steps were tracked which is approximately one thousand seven hundred sixty miles in two weeks. We celebrate this in the school & community. We have partnerships such as sponsors as well. 

Since 1970, the Illinois State Board of Education has sponsored the Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year program to honor educators who have made significant contributions to our state's public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools. Awards are presented in seven categories: classroom teachers, early career educators (teachers 1-4 years), school administrators, student support personnel, educational service personnel, community volunteers, and teams. Application materials are evaluated by a selection committee composed of individuals who represent a variety of educational organizations. 

Again, thank you, “Coach” Greg Harkins and congratulations on your AWARD of EXCELLENCE in the Classroom Teacher category by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).