The Illinois School Health Association (ISHA) named Marcia Berke, instructor, NIU School of Health Studies, as the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to select members of ISHA who have impacted the association throughout their careers by promoting and upholding quality health education in Illinois.
“Health education is so vital to all,” said Berke. “It is one of the most personal courses a student can take- regardless of the grade level. They will find some connection to the topics and those connections will be different for everyone.“
An educator for five decades, Berke taught health and physical education at the high school level before joining NIU in 2014. She has served on the board for the Illinois School Health Association since 2009, and has presented over 20 professional development sessions at the state and national levels on everything from inclusive language in a sexual health unit to using AI technologies in the classroom.
Nominators lauded Berke for continuing “to educate herself on the relevant topics impacting health education” and actively seeking opportunities to share her knowledge with others.
Berke said collaboration is key in health education.
“It is great that we collaborate as health educators to gain new understandings and pedagogical methods to make this information even easier and more relevant to all students,” Berke said. “Medicine and health is constantly changing which can become challenging as a teacher, but I strive to give students skills to make decisions, communicate effectively, access services and advocate for issues that concern them.”
