Downers Grove South Teacher Receives Outstanding Educator Award

Downers Grove South High School teach Patrick Fardy is one of only two teachers in Illinois to receive the “3M Outstanding Economic Educator Award” from 3M and Econ Illinois, the Illinois Council on Economic Education.

The award honors educators who are committed to economic education and who have positively impacted student achievement and economic understanding, according to Community High School District 99 officials.

Fardy, a business teacher at South High, was commended for "creating an environment where students can gain confidence in learning personal economic skills, including those needed to navigate through life during and after high school." 

In addition to teaching a variety of business courses, including consumer education, intro to business and entrepreneurship, Fardy was also lauded for expanding on his own base of knowledge in order to bring ideas back to the classroom for his students.

 “It’s an honor to be selected for this award,” Fardy said in a statement. “I’m pleased that we’re being recognized for our efforts to equip students with economic intelligence and crucial life skills for success.”

South High Principal Steve Bild commended Fardy for his achievement.

“Pat is an outstanding educator, and we are so pleased for his success of being recognized by this prestigious organization,” Bild said.

Committed to recognizing excellence in teaching, 3M has sponsored the award for the past 15 years. Econ Illinois and its network of university-based Centers for Economic Education provide Illinois teachers with curriculum counseling, educational competitions and awards program and professional development.