2026 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership Finalists — Golden Apple

2026 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Leadership Finalists

A highly competitive award process resulted in the selection of seven Pre-K-12th grade school leader finalists from nearly 100 nominations received.

Send a Note of Congratulations

Featured

Talarie Bilharz

Talarie Bilharz

St. Anne Catholic School

Dixon

Angie Codron

Normal West High School

Normal

Fabian Daniels

Annie Jo Gordon Community Learning Center

Peoria

Aliaa Ibrahim

Rutledge Hall

Lincolnwood

JW Kuebler

CICS Irving Park School

Chicago

Shaka Rawls

Leo High School

Chicago

Nicole Spicer

Bronzeville Classical Elementary School

Chicago

2026 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching Finalists

Following a highly competitive process, 30 4th-8th grade teachers were selected as finalists for the 2026 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching.

Send a Note of Congratulations

Featured

Kristin Anson

St. Norbert School

Northbrook

Andrew Bean

Catherine Cook School

Chicago

Kelly Beem

Benjamin Franklin Elementary

Moline

Jennifer Bozyk

Sacred Heart Schools

Chicago

Shavon Brewer

Northwest Elementary School

Evergreen Park

Alfredo Calderon

Alfredo Calderon

Peter Cooper Dual Language Academy

Chicago

Anuj Chopra

Pope John XXIII School

Evanston

Melissa Clark

Moulton Middle School

Shelbyville

Heather Debby

Disney II Magnet High School

Chicago

Megan Fitzsimmons

Megan Fitzsimmons

Thomas Jefferson Junior High School

Woodridge

Jerika Gill

Julia S Molloy Education Center

Morton Grove

Samantha Gill

Albert Sabin Dual Language Magnet School

Chicago

Kristina Lancaster

Kristina Lancaster

Big Hollow Elementary

Ingleside

Luann Lindauer

Benjamin Franklin Elementary School

Moline

Carrie Lovell

St. Paul School

Odell

Ma Luz Cruz

Mary E. McDowell School of International Studies

Chicago

Sara Mazhary

Marvin Camras Children's Engineering School

Chicago

Meonshai Houston

Meonshai Houston

Annette Harris Officer Elementary School

East St Louis

Melissa Moody

Joseph Lovett Elementary

Chicago

Michelle Orth

Madison School

South Holland

Misty Richmond

James Ward Elementary School

Chicago

John Ruskamp

Irene C. Hernandez middle school for the advancement of the sciences

Chicago

Nita Sengupta

Salazar Elementary Bilingual Center Elementary School

Chicago

Shweta Shah

Dewitt Clinton Elementary School

Chicago

Joshua Shearer

Davie/Anna Jr. High

Anna

Jennifer Van Dusen

Jennifer Van Dusen

Prairie Point Elementary School

Oswego

Joshua Veath

Mascoutah Elementary School

Mascoutah

Matthew White

Scullen Middle School

Naperville

Ashley Whittington

Ashley Whittington

Center for Educational Opportunities

Troy

Manfredo Winton

Manfredo Winton

Acero Jovita Idar Elementary School

Chicago

Stay up to date with all Golden Apple Awards announcements: