Golden Apple Expands Alternative Teacher Certification Program

(Chicago - June, 2001) — The Golden Apple Foundation is expanding its Golden Apple Teacher Education (GATE) alternative teacher certification program to the University of Illinois at Chicago this summer, and continuing its partnership with Northwestern University and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for a fourth year.


GATE is an alternative pathway to teacher preparation in Illinois designed and taught through partnerships of Northwestern University and University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) faculty and classroom teachers–winners of the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. The program has attracted a number of business professional into the teaching profession, utilizing corporate experience.


"The need for math and science teachers is especially strong," said Jim Pudlewski, Director of GATE for the Golden Apple Foundation. "We’ve found during the past three years that the program is successful in preparing professionals for a mid-career change into teaching."


The program has selected 48 adults for the program, to start working with master teacher during the eight-week summer school semester beginning June 19, 2001 and enter classrooms in fall, 2001. The first year of the program produced 12 GATE interns for Chicago schools, and the second year produced 26.


The program focuses on 6th-12th grade math and science, responding to the need for these teachers in Chicago Public Schools. K-5 elementary teachers have also been chosen. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and a 3.0 collegiate grade point average.


The GATE program is highly selective and intensive, seeking adults who have received degrees from established colleges and universities. The end result for those successful in the GATE program will be a recommendation by Northwestern University or UIC to the Illinois State Board of Education for teacher certification.


"Knowing the need for quality teachers for Chicago’s children, especially in math and science, we take care at every step to ensure that only the finest candidates are selected for this program and trained by the talented teachers of both our organization and Northwestern," said Pudlewski.


The GATE program requires a year for certification and is comprised of three phases of training. GATE instruction during the first and second phases fulfills all Illinois course requirements for teacher certification:


  1. Summer curriculum
    Between an introductory and closure week is a six-week involvement in a Chicago Public School summer school session during which GATE interns will observe and work in a classroom with master teachers. When the children leave, the master teachers teach the interns, presenting coursework and perspectives on lesson planning and methodology from the perspective of the master practitioner. Northwestern faculty provide additional instruction. Each intern is evaluated at the conclusion of the first phase, and successful interns proceed to the second phase.

  2. Full school year of teaching
    Successful GATE interns will enter into a year-long teaching position at a Chicago Public School (CPS) with salary and benefits. Interns will interact with a mentor teacher chosen by CPS and one from the Golden Apple Foundation. Coursework continues with Golden Apple (GA) faculty through the school year in twice-monthly seminars. Standard evaluation by school officials will be supplemented by formal evaluations by representatives of the partner universities and GA. At school year’s end, CPS school officials, NU and GA will evaluate the performance of each intern. Successful interns will be recommended by the universities to the state for certification.

  3. Second summer
    Interns at UIC will receive additional training in their chosen specialty and concluding coursework during the first two weeks of summer following their first year in the classroom.


Those who will be teaching secondary and middle school math and science are, and the school they will intern at this summer are:


  • Name/ Prior career/ School
  • David Ashkenaz/ Marketing analyst/ Steinmetz H.S.
  • Shumit DasGupta/ Academic counseling/ Dunbar H.S.
  • Paulette Davis/ Third party billing analyst/ Lakeview H.S.
  • Peter Draper/ Emergency physician/ Dunbar H.S.
  • Cheryl Dudeck/ Clinical exercise physiologist/ Kenwood H.S.
  • Marc Irwin/ Substitute teacher/ Kenwood H.S.
  • April Lampley/ Major account rep./ Stone H.S.
  • Kathleen Marino/ Financial accounting analyst/ Lakeview H.S.
  • Larry Nieman/ Instructor of accounting/ Stone H.S.
  • Scott Payne/ Teaching assistant/ Kenwood H.S.
  • Abel Pereyra/ Income broker/ Steinmetz H.S.
  • Deborah Price/ Math instructor/ Lakeview H.S.
  • Michelle Reynolds/ Advanced product specialist/ Agriculture
  • June Webb/ Researcher/ Agriculture
  • Harry White/ Teacher/ Dunbar H.S.
  • David Wilcoxen/ Billing supervisor/ Nobel Street H.S.


The newly-selected GATE interns who will intern at Whittier Elementary and Washington Irving Elementary at the elementary level are:


  • Name/ Prior career
  • Dana Bakos/ Technical sales consultant
  • Brandi Baumgartner/ Business operation analyst
  • Melissa Blomstrand/ Web designer
  • Sandra Cedrins/ Controller of nursing homes
  • Terry Diamond/ Contract litigator
  • Brook Dierkhising/ Art museum program assistant
  • Kim Edwards-Hatch/ Kindergarden teacher
  • Amy Frangipane/ Media Planner
  • Richard Glass/ Technical coordinator
  • Jocelyn Harrod/ Customer service representative
  • Gina Jackson/ Second grade teacher
  • Peter Lenz/ TV producer
  • Stacy Litherland/ Writer/consultant
  • Julliette Loebl/ Flight attendant
  • Adrienne McNutt/ English teacher in Japan
  • Cassandra Reimer/ University Student Outreach
  • Brenda Stark/ Staffing specialist/personnel
  • Jill Sutherland/ College recruitment speaker


GATE interns located Haines Elementary this summer are:


  • Name/ Prior career
  • Donald Atkins/ Youth services mediator
  • Jodi Arndt/ Benefit analyst
  • Eugene Booth/ Administrative assistant
  • Michael Clow/ Operation manager
  • Vanessa Cohler/ Exhibit supervisor/facilities coord.
  • Maltita Klauba/ Analyst and planner
  • Kevin Lewandowski/ Industrial production manager
  • Susan Shanahan/ Paralegal aide
  • Marla Sylvain/ Store manager
  • Anthony Vandarakis/ Substitute teacher
  • David Wells/ Museum educator
  • Spencer Wilkins/ Maintenance clerk/draftsman
  • Kiran Younus/ Senior project consultant


Founded in 1985 by venture capitalist Martin J. "Mike" Koldyke, the Golden Apple Foundation is committed to teacher recognition, recruitment, renewal and reform. Programs taught by the Foundation’s Academy of award-winning teacher include the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois teacher training program and the Golden Apple Science and Storytelling workshops.