Greg Harkins, known to many as “Coach,” has been awarded the Award of Excellence in the Classroom Teacher category by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The recognition is part of ISBE’s Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year program, which honors educators for their contributions to public and nonpublic schools across Illinois.
Harkins will be honored at the 52nd Annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet on April 18, 2026. He will join approximately 450 other educators from across Illinois at the event.
“Coach” Greg Harkins has served as an elementary physical education teacher at Main Street Elementary School for 15 years within Shelbyville Community Unit School District 4. His wife, Kate Harkins, is also an elementary teacher in the district. All four of their children attend schools in Shelbyville.
In his role, Harkins develops physical education units that emphasize both activity and skill application. He has introduced new activities such as “9-Square in the Air” and “Ga-Ga Ball,” advocated for playground improvements like additional Four Square courts, and worked to keep students engaged and active.
The school community credits Harkins with supporting student health, fostering connections with nature, and aiding youth development. He is described as a positive male role model who emphasizes not only physical skills but also personal growth through sportsmanship, safety, and sound decision-making—the “3 S’s.” Students frequently identify him as a preferred staff member due to his involvement in social-emotional learning initiatives and consistent communication with support teams.
A notable example of his work is “The Great Outdoors” unit. This program introduces students to outdoor activities including tent setup, geocaching, archery, water safety lessons at local beaches for first graders, primitive shelter building for second graders at Coon Creek Recreation Area, and campfire safety along with fishing opportunities at Lithia Springs for third graders. The unit includes partnerships with organizations such as the US Army Corps of Engineers and Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance. As a result of these efforts, Main Street Elementary School received special recognition under the federal “Every Kid Outdoors” initiative.
Harkins also coaches bass fishing at Shelbyville High School. Recently he played a key role in securing Lake Shelbyville as host site for the IHSA State Bass Fishing Tournament—a move expected to benefit both local schools and businesses.
Additionally, he leads the school’s Wellness TEAM—teachers who plan wellness challenges throughout the year focused on hydration, nutrition, gratitude, screen time awareness and more. Participation among students and staff is high; during one challenge tracking physical activity over two weeks among kindergarten through third grade students resulted in more than three thousand badges earned while staff logged over three million steps.
Shelbyville Community Unit School District 4 serves pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade students in Shelby County including Main Street Elementary School where Harkins teaches. According to state data from the Illinois Report Card, it enrolled around 1,190 students during the 2019-2020 school year across several schools including Moulton Elementary School and Shelbyville High School. The district’s teachers average $53,412 annually before pension contributions; about four out of five are women.The faculty maintains low absenteeism rates compared to statewide averages.
Demographically,the district is predominantly White (95.6 percent), with smaller percentages identifying as Black (0.6 percent), Hispanic (1.8 percent), or Asian (0.7 percent). In terms of spending,it invested $15,568 per student in 2020.Chronic truancy rates are lower than state averages, with about four percent classified as chronically truant compared to nearly ten percent statewide.
Since its inception in 1970,the Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year program has recognized educators like Harkins who make significant impacts within their communities.
“Coach” Greg Harkins’ colleagues expressed appreciation: “Coach builds relationships with kids. They know he cares about them; they know he sees them.”
He was further praised: “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.”
Congratulations were extended: “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).”
