2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year
![]()
Dr. Rachael Mahmood
2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year
Far West Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year
Georgetown Elementary School, Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204
Dr. Rachael Mahmood is a fifth-grade teacher at Georgetown Elementary School in Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204. She has a passion for designing curriculum that affirms students' identities and engaging instructional methods that nurture their love for school. Dr. Mahmood strives to create relationships with her students and their families that leave a lasting impression of care and support.
Over the past two decades in education, she has chaired equity teams and a diversity advisory parent group, facilitated dialogue circles, delivered professional development, and authored curriculums within her district and across the state. Dr. Mahmood also serves as the Educational Task Force Chair for the Muslim Civic Coalition, designing resources, professional development, and toolkits for educational laws passed in Illinois. Dr. Mahmood was recognized as a semifinalist in both the Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence and the Distinguished Alumni of Elmhurst University. Notably, she was honored with the Michael Feldman Educational Leadership Award from Elmhurst University and the Rising Star Alumni Award from Benedictine University.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Mahmood writes for educational blogs, sharing strategies for culturally responsive teaching. In 2020, she started an educational consulting business designing professional development frameworks for educators and shares them on multiple social media platforms.
Dr. Mahmood aspires to be a teacher who helps students recognize their agency in shaping a better world. She is currently writing a book about culturally responsive instruction and dreams of creating frameworks and resources to transform education on a national scale. Watch Dr. Mahmood being named the 2024 Teacher of the Year!
Teacher of the Year Invites Illinois Schools and Districts to Participate in World Café
Dr. Rachael Mahmood, 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year, invites school districts to participate in a
World Café keynote, a dynamic two-hour dialogue that she will facilitate. This engaging workshop is designed to help school communities address the central question:
How do we ensure that students, educators, and families feel a sense of belonging in our schools?
This powerful model encourages small group discussions that rotate and build on shared insights, ultimately generating actionable steps and innovative solutions tailored to each individual school. This activity can enable schools to engage their employees and elevate educator voices to foster a culture of belonging for all.
Schools and districts can register today!
