The Illinois 2002 Teacher of the Year and Eastern alumnus Robert Grimm will speak at 7 p.m. tonight in Buzzard Auditorium.

Charles Rohn, dean of the college of education and professional studies, as well as Merribeth Bruning, chair of the department of early childhood, elementary level education and middle level education, will also speak at the event.

Grimm will be addressing issues of teaching and learning pertinent to the future and will touch on the field of physics and its relevance to society.

Each year, the department of early childhood, elementary level education and middle level education brings the Illinois Teacher of the Year out to speak to students, said Judith Barford, assistant professor of early childhood, elementary level education and middle level education.

“We are excited to have an Eastern graduate come back and speak this year,” Barford said. “This is a part of a long-standing tradition.”

Grimm attended Michigan State University and completed his bachelor of science in 1978. In 1981, he completed his master’s degree in educational leadership at Northern Illinois University and received his master’s degree in the physics teaching program from Eastern in 1984.

“To be able to go back and speak at Eastern is quite an honor,” said Grimm, who is hoping students who attend will get a glimpse of what teaching really is about. “I think teaching is one of the most rewarding professions you can have.”

Grimm has been teaching high school science for 24 years. Along the way he has been named Illinois High School Physics Teacher of the Year in 1984, Illinois recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching in 1991 and Illinois Teacher of the Year in 2002.

Over the years, Grimm has had students write and tell him they got more out of his class than any other class they ever took, which is the result of Grimm’s “hands-on” approach to learning.

Aside from bringing in various people to speak about different aspects of science, Grimm gives his students a lab activity at the beginning of each class and follows that with a small group discussion.

“Face-to-face time gives students the opportunity to solve problems together,” Grimm said. “Cooperative groups give kids time to talk to one another and share ideas.”

As a teacher, Grimm feels that he helps his students find their true potential and talent within the classroom.

“Students should find a lot of motivation for their choice in a teaching career,” Barford said.

Grimm is looking forward to speaking to future teachers and giving them some important information to be a successful teacher in the classroom.

This presentation, sponsored by Association for Childhood Education International, Kappa Delta Pi, Middle Level Educators, Student Reading Council and the local chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, is free and open to everyone.

For more information, please contact the department at 581-5728.