33 outstanding teachers named finalists for Golden Apple Awards
(Chicago - February 03, 2002) — The Golden Apple Foundation, which is dedicated to recognizing and developing excellence in teaching, today announced the names of 33 Chicago-area finalists for the 2003 Golden Apple Awards for excellence in classroom teaching in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.
More than 1,000 teachers from Cook, Lake and DuPage counties were nominated for the award, which was first presented in 1986. Ten Golden Apple winners, selected from the finalists, will be announced in March.
The 33 finalists include teachers from 14 Chicago public schools, two Chicago private schools, 13 suburban public schools, three suburban private schools, and one suburban religious school.
The suburban schools are located in Buffalo Grove, Evanston (3), Hoffman Estates, Homewood, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lisle, Matteson, Naperville, Northbrook, Oak Park, Round Lake Beach (2), Schaumburg, and Wauconda.
The finalists will be honored Saturday, February 15 at the Celebration of Excellence in Teaching from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the House of Blues, 333 N. Dearborn St. in Chicago.
The Awards selection committee is comprised of more than 70 Chicago-area educators. Two committee members will observe each of the 33 finalists in the classroom and interview their principal and selected colleagues, parents and students. The 10 Golden Apple Award winners will be announced on March 12 and 13. They will be honored at an awards ceremony on May 31 at the Fairmont Chicago hotel, which subsequently will be aired as a one-hour prime-time special on WTTW/Channel 11.
Each of the 10 Golden Apple Award winners will receive a tuition-free fall-term sabbatical at Northwestern University; $2,500; a personal computer from Apple; and induction into the Golden Apple Academy, which now numbers 170 expert teachers who work together to ensure that all children have the excellent teachers they deserve.
2003 Golden Apple Award Finalists:
Karen L. Barbour
Washington Elementary School
Evanston, IL
Thomas Hugh Beck
Central Elementary School
Lake Bluff, IL
Patricia S. Bessick
Lincoln Prairie School
Hoffman Estates, IL
Mary F. Bianchi
Walter F. Christopher School
Chicago, IL
Catherine A. Conde
Ravenswood Elementary School School
Chicago, IL
Rebecca S. Eros
Reilly Elementary School
Chicago, IL
Michael L. Flynn
James Otis Elementary School
Chicago, IL
Elizabeth D. Giesen
Oscar Mayer Elementary School
Chicago, IL
Amy Lynn Goldstein
Tripp School
Buffalo Grove, IL
Jane E. Grant
Bell Elementary School
Chicago, IL
Carolyn J. Grantham
Woodson South Elementary School
Chicago, IL
Jeria A. Iannotti
Frederick Stock School
Chicago, IL
Craig Johnson
Canty Elementary School
Chicago, IL
Connie Joyce
Hale Elementary School
Schaumburg, IL
Christine J. McDowell
Montessori School of Lake Forest
Lake Forest, IL
Karen W. Meany
Sieden Prairie Elementary School
Matteson, IL
Kathleen M. Piane
University of Chicago Lab School
Chicago, IL
Donna R. Piazza
Willow School
Homewood, IL
Sharon M. Ponder
Byrd Community Academy
Chicago, IL
Margaret McNeil Pyterek
Grove Elementary School
Northbrook, IL
Marcy Ring
Henry Suder Elementary School
Chicago, IL
Jennifer M. Santo
Avon Center Elementary School
Round Lake Beach, IL
Jason Scheetz
University of Chicago Lab School
Chicago, IL
Mathias J. Schergen
Jenner Academy of the Arts
Chicago, IL
James B. Smith
Walker Elementary School
Evanston, IL
Alyce Joan Sosnowski
Oakview Montessori Children's House
Lisle, IL
Paule A. Sprecher
Farnsworth Elementary School
Chicago, IL
Luci M. Stein
Avon Center Elementary School
Round Lake Beach, IL
Meghan M. Sweet
Baker Demonstration School
Evanston, IL
David Stuart Vance
Spring Brook Elementary School
Naperville, IL
Sexton Elementary School
Chicago, IL
Jeffrey J. Weber
Longfellow Elementary School
Oak Park, IL
Peter John Worrall
Northwest Suburban Christian Academy
Wauconda, IL