Recognizing Outstanding Teachers in Central Illinois

Golden Apple Central Illinois (GACI) is committed to recognizing excellent teachers in 18 counties in central Illinois: Champaign, Christian, Coles, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Livingston, Logan, Macon, McLean, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Sangamon, Tazewell, and Vermilion. Fresh and innovative ideas for teachers, the recognition of excellence,and the opportunity to create or contribute to programmatic responses to the needs of deserving children and are all part of our commitment to nurturing and inspiring great teachers.

Winners of the 2008 Golden Apple Central Illinois Award for Excellence in Teaching

Elaine Harmon, Thomas Paine Elementary School, Urbana
David Hirst, Normal Community West High School, Normal
Don Jolly, Our Saviour Catholic School, Jacksonville
Roberta Maubach, Thomas Metcalf Lab School, Bloomington
Tim McCollum, Charleston Middle School, Charleston
Suzanne McDowell, Bloomington Area Vocational Center, Bloomington
Nancy Powell, Bloomington High School, Bloomington
Shameem Rakha, Franklin Middle School, Champaign
Hillary Sawyer, Booker T. Washington Elementary School, Champaign
Sheila Stephens, Illinois School for the Deaf, Jacksonville

GACI Teacher Nomination and Award Guidelines

GACI follows the nominating and award guidelines of our Chicago-area Golden Apple affiliate, including the nominating calendar and procedures. However, eligible teachers can come from pre-K through grade 12 in every calendar year, instead of the three-grade format (pre-K-3, 4-8, 9-12) adopted by the larger Chicago region.

Recognition of Excellence and More

Golden Apple Central Illinois Award-winning teachers receive not only recognition by Golden Apple, their peers and the community, but also:

A paid semester sabbatical at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
A laptop computer
$3,000 cash award
Induction into the GACI Academy of Educators, which intends to create educational programs to benefit the students of the teacher’s community.