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Ten Chicagoland Middle School Teachers Selected

Ten Chicagoland Middle School Teachers Selected to Receive 2002 Golden Apple Awards

(Chicago - February 29, 2002) — Ten Chicagoland middle school teachers are being surprised in their classrooms February 27 and 28, 2002, with the news that they have been selected as winners of the 2002 Golden Apple Awards. This year’s ten winners are (in alphabetical order):

• Cynthia L. Bell
  Still Middle School, Aurora

• Louise Tolle Huffman
  Kennedy Jr. H.S., Lisle

• David K. Jones
  Pleasant Ridge, Glenview

• Barbara Lee Joseph
  Ravenswood Elem., Chicago

• David Howard Kayson
  Keller Jr. H.S., Schaumburg

• Mary Acierto Ridley
  Nettelhorst Elementary

• Mary Catherine Ryan
  St. Bede the Venerable, Chicago

• Steve Salski
  Lincoln Hall Middle School, Lincolnwood

• Margie D. Smagacz
  William P. Gray Elem., Chicago

• Susan Wachowski
  Hinsdale Middle School, Hinsdale

Winners of the 2002 Golden Apple Award receive an Apple computer, $2,500, a paid semester sabbatical at Northwestern University, and induction into the Golden Apple Academy of Educators. The Academy is comprised of past Golden Apple Award winners, and members serve as an “education brain trust” to create educational programs.

Now in its seventeenth year, the Golden Apple Awards program receives more than 1,000 nominations each fall from educators, students, parents and the general public in Cook, Lake and DuPage Counties. Award selection is determined by a volunteer committee of more than 70 professional educators, including former Golden Apple winners.

Nominees must complete a written application that is reviewed by at least two members of the nomination committee. Thirty-two finalists were selected and observed in their classrooms before the ten winners were chosen. Grade eligibility is rotated on an annual basis, with middle school teachers selected this year.

Winners of the 2002 Golden Apple Award will be honored Thursday, May 30, 2002, on a one-hour primetime television special broadcast by WTTW/Channel 11. The television special will include foot of award winners in their classrooms. The Golden Apple Awards are underwritten by Apple and Lucent Technologies.

The Golden Apple Awards began in 1986, and since then, 170 teachers have been awarded Golden Apples, including the ten teachers chosen this year. The Golden Apple Awards are the idea of Golden Apple founder Martin J. "Mike" Koldyke, who felt that excellent teachers were not receiving adequate recognition for their important contributions to society.

The Golden Apple Academy, made of up past Golden Apple winners, has created the programs of the Foundation:

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois - supports participants from their senior year of high school through their fifth year of teaching, with supplemental preparation and financial support to become teachers in high-need schools.

Golden Apple Teacher Education (GATE) - is an alternative teacher certification program in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Golden Apple Science Workshop - immerses Chicago-area K-8 teachers in the inquiry method of teaching science through summer workshops.

Golden Apple Storytelling Workshop - gives teachers an important tool for engaging students in all subject areas.

The Golden Apple Foundation was founded in 1985 to promote excellence in teaching. The Foundation sponsors the annual Golden Apple Awards for teachers, the statewide Golden Apple Scholars teacher recruitment program, the Golden Apple Teacher Education (GATE) program, and various workshops and programs.