Thirty-two Middle School Teachers Selected as 2002 Golden Apple Award Finalists
(Chicago - February, 2002) — Some of Chicagoland's best middle school teachers will be recognized February 9, 2002, as Golden Apple Award Finalists. The Finalists will be honored by the Golden Apple Foundation and past Golden Apple winners at the Celebration of Excellence in Teaching from 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the House of Blues, 333 North Dearborn Street in Chicago. This year's celebration will feature Keith Anderson, a 1990 Golden Apple Fellow, and the award-winning Hillcrest High School Jazz Ensemble.
The Finalists were selected from over 1000 nominations of outstanding middle school teachers from Cook, Lake and DuPage Counties. The Foundation's Selection Committee is made up of 70 volunteer Chicago-area educators and education administrators. Two committee members will observe each Finalist in the classroom and interview the Finalist's principal and selected colleagues, parents and students. The ten Golden Apple winners will be announced on February 27 and 28, 2002, and will be honored in May in a one-hour prime time special produced by WTTW/Channel 11.
Each of the ten Golden Apple Award winners will receive a tuition-free fall term sabbatical at Northwestern University; $2,500; a personal computer from Apple; and induction into the Golden Apple Academy, made up of past Golden Apple winners.
2002 Golden Apple Award Finalists:
Cynthia L. Bell
Still Middle School, Aurora
Subjects: math
Years teaching: 10
Sandra E. Cap
Keller Magnet School, Chicago
Subjects: language arts & algebra
Years teaching: 31
Tamara Cooper
Charles Earle Elementary, Chicago
Subjects: reading, social studies, math, science, character education, entrepreneurship, English & critical thinking
Years teaching: 13
Louise Tolle Huffman
Kennedy Jr. High School
Subjects: language arts & math
Years teaching: 29
Sandra Jacobs
Millburn School, Wadsworth
Subjects: math, language arts & reading
Years teaching: 13
David K. Jones
Pleasant Ridge School, Glenview
Subjects: physical education & fine arts
Years teaching: 23
Barbara Joseph
Ravenswood Elementary School, Chicago
Subject: music
Years teaching: 29
Justine M. Kane, OP
St. Pius V School, Chicago
Subjects: religion, math, language arts, reading & science
Years teaching: 18
David H. Kayson
Keller Jr. High School, Schaumburg
Subjects: drama & language arts
Years teaching: 30
Janice E. Lombardo
Emiliano Zapata Academy School, Chicago
Subjects: science, medical technology, bridge science laboratory, reading & math
Years teaching: 10
Suzanne Martinez
Louis Pasteur Elementary School
Subject: computer science
Years teaching: 30
Kathleen McKay McKeena
Baker Demonstration School, Evanston
Subjects: social studies & language arts
Years teaching: 13
Francisco Gerardo Mendoza
Jose Clemente Orozco Community of Fine Arts & Sciences
Subject: art
Years teaching: 17
Elizabeth Nessner
Mark T. Skinner Elementary School, Chicago
Subjects: language arts & social studies
Years teaching: 6
Darlene L. Patulski
Lincoln Junior High School, Skokie
Subjects: math & science
Years teaching: 29
Serena D. Peterson
Pulaski Fine Arts Academy, Chicago
Subjects: reading, science & math
Years teaching: 14
Edward Podsiadlik III
George Washington Elementary, Chicago
Subjects: reading & social studies
Years teaching: 12
Gary Quinn
Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization, Arlington Heights
Subjects: Jr. High diagnostic program
Years teaching: 26
Janette L. Ramirez
Jonathan Y. Scammon Elementary, Chicago
Subject: language arts
Years teaching: 7
Ann Marie Reis
Hannah G. Solomon Elementary, Chicago
Subjects: social studies, science, reading, writing, math & special education inclusion
Years teaching: 10
Mary Acierto Ridley
Louis Nettelhorst Elementary, Chicago
Subjects: visual art, reading & learning disabilities
Years teaching: 30
Mary C. Ryan
Bede the Venerable School, Chicago
Subject: language arts
Years teaching: 9
Steve Salski
Lincoln Hall Middle School, Lincolnwood
Subject: social studies
Years teaching: 8
Laura Lynn Schraeder
Glenside Middle School, Chicago
Subjects: language arts, language usage & French
Years teaching: 12
Margie D. Smagacz
William P. Gray Elementary, Chicago
Subjects: 6th grade all subjects; 7th & 8th language arts
Years teaching: 6
Marlyn Spivak
Jack London Middle School, Wheeling
Subjects: math, science, language arts, health & advisory
Years teaching: 30
John Stewart
Rachel Carson Elementary, Chicago
Subjects: self-contained classroom
Years teaching: 7
Greg J. Stout
Spring Wood Middle School, Hanover Park
Subjects: social studies, reading/literature, film & drama
Years teaching: 3
Marie Doorhy Sullivan
James Shields Elementary, Chicago
Subjects: language arts, social studies, science & math
Years teaching: 9
Elizabeth Valente
James Otis Elementary, Chicago
Subjects: 6th grade
Years teaching: 10
Donna Vorreyer
Hinsdale Middle School, Hinsdale
Subjects: language arts
Years teaching: 17
Susan M. Wachowski
Hinsdale Middle School, Hinsdale
Subjects: math, social studies & language arts
Years teaching: 21