Golden Apple Award Recipients Surprised Throughout Chicagoland

CHICAGO, May 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden Apple, a leader in advancing the teaching profession in Illinois for 29 years, proudly announced today the recipients of the 2014 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.  The 2014 honorees, selected from a pool of 620 nominations and 272 applicants, represent 4th – 8th grade teachers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. 

Additional information and photos of award recipients can be found on social media:

• On Twitter: @goldenapple_Il
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goldenappleillinois
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/goldenapplefound
• Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenapplephotos

Award Recipients surprised on May 7 include:

• Luke Albrecht, Crown Community Fine Arts Academy, Chicago, IL
• Mary Benton, Hawthorn Middle School South, Vernon Hills, IL
• Joseph Casanovas, Helen C. Peirce School of International Studies, Chicago, IL
• Roosevelt Griffin, Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, Harvey, IL
• Michael Novak, Park View School, Morton Grove, IL
• Rozy Patel, Edgebrook School, Chicago, IL

President and CEO of Golden Apple, Dominic Belmonte praised this year's award recipients, "These amazing teachers demonstrate the skill, enthusiasm and passion needed to inspire their students to achieve greatness.  Each is a shining example of excellence in education and we are proud to honor them for all they do as teachers."

Golden Apple has recognized outstanding Chicago-area educators annually since 1986. The creation of Golden Apple founders Mike and Pat Koldyke, the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes and honors outstanding teachers for their contributions to building a stronger, better-educated citizenry. Golden Apple's mission is to inspire, develop and support teacher excellence in Illinois.  Golden Apple award recipients play a critical role in furthering the programs of Golden Apple, particularly as members of the faculty who help prepare the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois to be future teachers within schools of need.

Research shows a high-performing teacher can boost lifetime earnings of a classroom of 20 students by more than $400,000. That's a $2 million aggregate lifetime earnings increase from just five years of dedicated and quality teaching.

"We all know the impact a well-prepared teacher can have - not only in one classroom - but for future generations of students," said Belmonte.  "Great teachers such as those we honor this week are priceless." 

Each Golden Apple Award recipient receives a tuition-free, spring quarter sabbatical to study at Northwestern University.  Each recipient also receives a $3,000 cash award.  Perhaps most importantly, Award recipients become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, giving them a stronger voice and a larger stage from which to make a difference in education within Illinois and nationally.

Fellows participate as instructors in ongoing professional development programs provided by Golden Apple, as well as provide instruction and mentoring of future teachers through the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program, which has prepared more than 1,500 college students to teach in schools of need in Illinois.

The recipients of the 2014 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching will be honored at a black-tie gala on October 24^th at WTTW/Channel 11 Studios in Chicago. WTTW will broadcast the awards in a one-hour television program following the event.

Nominations for the 2015 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching will open on May 12^th on the Golden Apple website, www.goldenapple.org.  The nominations can be made by anyone; however, teachers may not nominate themselves.  Teachers who are eligible for nomination must be full-time classroom teachers at public or non-public schools within Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry or Will counties, and committed to continue teaching in Illinois for two subsequent years after the sabbatical.  The Golden Apple Awards concentrate on specific grade levels each year: Pre-K- 3, 4-8 and 9-12.  In 2014, the focus was on 4-8 grade teachers.  For 2015, Pre-K – 3^rd grade teachers will be honored.

Distinguished retired teachers, college/university professors, administrators, and former Golden Apple Award recipients serve on Golden Apple's selection committee. Committee members apply research-based professional standards to identify teachers who exemplify the highest standards and practices of the teaching profession.  The selection process includes classroom observations of all Award finalists and interviews with colleagues, administrators, students, and parents.  

Golden Apple Academy members have directly helped more than 5,000 Illinois teachers to become more effective in the classroom and indirectly helped tens of thousands of others. Additionally, more than 665,000 Illinois children have been positively impacted by Golden Apple Scholars who have become teachers in Illinois since 1993 through advanced teacher preparation and mentoring that is provided by Academy members.  The more than 290 (ten from Central Illinois) currently active Academy members have greater than 2,000 collective years of teaching experience.

About Golden Apple
Celebrating its 29^th anniversary, Golden Apple began with founders Mike and Pat Koldyke and a shared inspiration-to offer outstanding schoolteachers a level of recognition and engagement in the larger work of education reform. Golden Apple's successful track record of integrated, innovative programs and resources enhance the quality, resiliency and creativity of classroom teachers and improve teaching and learning throughout Illinois. Qualified, passionate educators-including Golden Apple Award recipients and finalists-lead a small staff of dedicated employees with functional and program expertise. A connected and committed board of directors oversees Golden Apple's strategic direction. Together with a larger community of expert educators, this nonprofit organization works to ensure that all Illinois children have the excellent teachers they deserve, particularly within schools of need.  Visit www.goldenapple.org for more information.

2014 RECIPIENTS OF GOLDEN APPLE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

Mr. Luke Albrecht     
Mathematics, Algebra, Community 6,7,8th grades
Crown Community Fine Arts Academy 
Chicago

Luke Albrecht became a teacher because he is committed to a life of service and believes "one person's impact causes a ripple effect on others' capacity to help even more people." Luke enjoys teaching mathematics as a process of educating students how to think. Luke gears his entire class around looking at how people think. He links the Common Core Mathematical Practice of reasoning abstractly and quantitatively strengthening students' ability to understand themselves and others. He feels strongly that this approach helps to create an environment of respect and learning inside and outside the classroom walls.  Luke insists that teaching is not only about teaching mathematics.

Mrs. Mary Benton
Art, 6,7,8th grades
Hawthorn Middle School South
Vernon Hills

Mary Benton teaches her passion. The classroom is her artistic element, where she is meant to be. Her art room is not just a classroom; it is a true art studio.  What is not displayed there is exhibited throughout the school.  Whether painted ceiling tiles, permanent paintings on the walls, murals in the hallways, or display cases showcasing sculpture or pottery, art surrounds Hawthorn students every day. She instills in her students a love of art, a sense of pride, and through the numerous displays, lets students know that they and their work are valuable and important.

Mr. Joseph Casanovas
Math, Algebra, Science, 8^th grade
Helen C. Peirce School of International Studies
Chicago

Joseph Casanovas loves teaching with a passion. He views his mission as an initial spark to ignite learning in each of his students.  He cherishes his obligation towards advancing his practice as a lifelong learner.  Joseph was an established engineer in the corporate world until teaching called him. Math and science are explored in his classroom with an infectious passion. He inspires students to acquire a sense of ownership in learning based on their own experiences and discussions with others.  He wants students to recognize their own personal strengths, to believe in themselves and not be afraid to take risks, both in and out of the classroom.

Mr. Roosevelt Griffin
Instrumental Music, District Band Director
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School
Harvey

Ralph Emerson has a saying that fits both Roosevelt Griffin and his students: "Make the most of yourself for that is all there is of you." Words cannot begin to express the impact Roosevelt has had on his students both at Brooks, as well as those students who have crossed his path across the country. Parents marvel over the transformation their children have made while participating in his band program. Community leaders are thankful that Roosevelt made the decision to work in and give back to the district, and most importantly to stay in the area where he was born, raised and went to school.  His teaching care is transformative in nature and results in an outstanding student product that is reflected in the elevated performance of an outstanding middle school jazz band that has taken the stage of the Chicago Jazz Festival and received high acclaim.

Mr. Michael Novak
Mathematics, Science, 8^th grade
Park View School
Morton Grove

Michael Novak holds both a B.S. and M.S. degree in mechanical engineering and worked for several years in industry, including Fermilab and Caterpillar, Inc. He taught several classes at the university level, and realized that teaching provided a personal fulfillment in his life.  He took education classes, taught middle school for five years in Champaign then moved back to Chicago where he has taught for ten years.  Mike focuses on big ideas that students have to learn in both his science and math disciplines. He grows his lessons from authentic questions the students generate. The content becomes sophisticated and complicated but Michael's enthusiasm and genuine support allow students to truly believe "I CAN do this!"

Ms. Rozy Patel
Science, Writing, Art, Sex Ed, 7,8^th grades
Edgebrook School
Chicago

Rozy Patel spent four years attending medical school before she realized that it was not the profession for her.  After subbing in several schools Rozy discovered the joys of teaching.  She became a teacher because the students' energy was contagious.  She loves preparing her students for the kind of work they live in, and she is very happy at the end of the day.  As a scientist before entering the teaching profession, Rozy models, shares, and guides her students to probe deeply into their scientific inquiry, always encouraging higher order thinking.

For more information contact: 
Eileen Rochford
Ph: 312-953-3305
[email protected]

SOURCE Golden Apple