Golden Apple Awards: Rewarding Excellence in Teaching

The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching was the idea of Golden Apple founder Martin J. (Mike) Koldyke, who felt that excellent teachers did not receive adequate recognition for their contributions to building a stronger, better-educated society.

Every year since 1986, Golden Apple has chosen 10 outstanding teachers to receive this prestigious award. These teachers become lifetime members of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, which conceives, develops and supports programs for teachers to make them more effective in the classroom

The Golden Apple Awards are broadcast annually on Chicago public television station WTTW11. 

2008 Winners [pdf]
2008 Finalists [pdf]
2008 Nominees [pdf]

More Than Just a Trophy

The Golden Apple Award offers its recipients (known as Fellows), the platform to create or contribute to programmatic responses to the needs of schoolchildren throughout Illinois.

In addition to the honor and public recognition, Golden Apple Award winners enjoy these additional rewards:
  • A paid semester sabbatical at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Winners may take as many courses as they wish in any subjects they choose. As part of the sabbatical, the winners, as a group, design a seminar series to which they invite individuals who are making significant contributions in the field of education.
  • A laptop computer
  • A cash award of $3,000
  • Induction into the Golden Apple Academy of Educators

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must be full-time classroom teachers at a public or non-public school in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake or Will counties in Illinois. Nominees must be committed to continue teaching in Illinois for at least two years after receiving the award.


NOTE: Golden Apple Awards rotate through grade levels on an annual basis:

2007-2008 - 4th-8th Grade
2010-2011 - 4th-8th Grade
2008-2009 - pre-K-3rd Grade
2011-2012 - pre-K-3rd Grade
2009-2010 - High School
2012-2013 - High School

Becoming a Golden Apple nominee

In order to be considered for a Golden Apple Award, a teacher must first be nominated. Anyone may nominate a teacher; however a teacher may not nominate himself or herself. Each year, Golden Apple receives about 1,000 nominations.

The nomination period is September 1 through December 12. Golden Apple sends nomination materials are sent to each school in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and Will counties, and additional forms are available from Golden Apple. You also may nominate a teacher on this Web site.

Being nominated is the first step to becoming a Golden Apple Award winner. Each eligible nominee must complete a detailed application, including essay responses and provide three letters of recommendation. From the hundreds of completed applications, and from initial screening of the classroom practices of semi-finalists by selection committee members, approximately 30 teachers are selected each year as finalists. Finalists and their colleagues, administrators, parents, students and former students are interviewed, and Golden Apple observes each finalist in the classroom before the 10 Golden Apple Award winners are chosen.


Choosing the Fellows

Choosing 10 award recipients from hundreds of excellent applicants is the responsibility of the Golden Apple Awards Selection Committee, made up of more than 80 volunteers including principals, administrators, members of higher education faculties, and Golden Apple Fellows.

Golden Apple selects teachers who exemplify the highest standards and practices of the teaching profession. These qualities include but are not limited to demonstrating distinguished classroom practice (pedagogical skill), professionalism and collegiality, high standards for themselves and their students, the ability to create a classroom environment conducive to learning, the ability to reflect on practice, creativity, commitment to students and their learning, and contribution to the wider school community.

Our selection committee, composed of experienced educators, uses the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, Five Core Propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and the Charlotte Danielson rubric for distinguished teaching practice to evaluate applicants.

Teachers of Distinction

In addition to the 10 Golden Apple Award recipients, the Selection Committee names Teachers of Distinction deserving of acknowledgment for their superior accomplishments.

The Founding Partners that Make the Awards Possible

The Golden Apple Awards program is a team effort. WTTW/11 produces and broadcasts the Golden Apple Awards ceremony, and Northwestern University provides tuition-free sabbaticals.

For more information, contact Nellie Quintana, Awards Programs Associate Director: Selection.