About Golden Apple
Created in 1985 to honor outstanding Chicago-area teachers as grandly as Hollywood honors its movie stars at the Academy Awards, the first Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching ceremony was presented on public television as a black-tie gala spotlighting 10 teachers and showing their inspiring work in the classroom.In the decades that followed, Golden Apple has grown into an institution that continues to recognize gifted teachers, and also prepares and strengthens teachers who make a critical difference in the lives of all children, with a special emphasis on those teaching children from disadvantaged schools.
There now are 230 teachers who have been celebrated as Golden Apple Award winners; more than 1,000 Golden Apple Scholars teaching or on their way to teaching in Illinois schools of need; 500 teachers in Chicago Public School classrooms who were prepared in our GATE program for college graduates who chose to change careers to become teachers; and thousands of teachers who have participated in our professional development workshops and seminars and shared their insights online with peers on our Teaching Excellence Network.
Now Golden Apple is expanding its program to 18 counties in Central Illinois; planning to open the Teachers Excellence Center in the Chicago area to provide professional development to teachers in low-income communities using the whole school as the unit of change; and working to double the size of the Golden Apple Scholars program to serve more schoolchildren in Illinois.
We have done so much, but there is so much more to do! Please join us in our mission to assure that all children have the excellent teachers they deserve.