The Golden Apple Foundation Honors Normal West High School Principal Angie Codron as 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership Recipient

CHICAGO (May 4, 2026) - The Golden Apple Foundation, the leading Illinois-based nonprofit committed to preparing, mentoring, honoring, and retaining great educators who advance educational opportunities for students, today surprised Angie Codron, principal of Normal West High School in Normal, with the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership, presented in honor of founding Golden Apple board member Stanley C. Golder. 

Following a highly competitive process, Cordon was selected as an award recipient from nearly 100 nominations of Pre-K-12th grade school leaders. 

“Great school leaders set the standard for what a school can achieve. They build cultures where students succeed, and educators are empowered to do their best work,” said Alan Mather, President of The Golden Apple Foundation. “This recipient shows how strong leadership drives real results across an entire school community. We welcome them into the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, where their experience and leadership will help support and guide the next generation of aspiring educators in the Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators Program in Illinois.”

As a statewide award, the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership honors exemplary performance in school leadership by a principal or head of school who has had a significant and sustained positive impact on the school and delivered dramatic student growth.

“Angie has created a school environment where strong leadership translates into measurable impact for students and educators alike,” said Alicia Winckler, CEO of The Golden Apple Foundation. “Their leadership is driving meaningful results within their school and setting a powerful example for what’s possible in schools across Illinois.”

About Angie Cordon

Angie Codron is a principal who leads by example — and has been doing so at Normal West High School for 20 years.  Angie joined the staff at Normal West High School 20 years ago as a science teacher and coach and has been a voice for her students ever since. Today, Angie serves as a district-level professional development leader, designing and delivering training for more than 2,000 staff members annually and advancing aligned instructional practices across schools. 

On the student level, she remains engaged through leadership development programs, regularly presenting to Freshmen Mentoring groups and supporting student leaders in the Advanced Mentoring Program, PACK Athletic Leadership Council, Paw Print Journalism and the student podcast. Throughout her career, she has maintained a consistent and visible presence in student-driven initiatives such as these and continues to create opportunities for students to lead, influence and connect with their broader community.

Angie intends to leave a legacy at Normal West High School. She accomplishes goals set out before her and designs systems intended to function independently of the principal’s presence, in order to ensure efficiency and modernize professional learning structures.

Angie lives her life by three personal philosophies: be the difference people need when they need it, leave things better than you found them, and never stop teaching and coaching.

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership recipients receive a cash award of $10,000, with $5,000 for the school leader and $5,000 to the school for a project of the recipient’s choosing. Northwestern University generously provides coursework at no cost to the awardee. Additionally, award recipients become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, a community of educators who play an important role in preparing the next generation of teachers in the Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators programs, which are dedicated to addressing the teacher shortage in Illinois.

The nomination period for the 2027 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership is open. All are invited to nominate exceptional Pre-K-3rd-grade teachers and Pre-K-12th grade school leaders in Illinois at www.goldenapple.org/awards. 

Golden Apple’s social media channels will feature surprises for each of the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership recipients. Follow the news here: Facebook | X | Instagram | LinkedIn.

About The Golden Apple Foundation

Golden Apple's mission is to inspire, develop, and support teacher and school leader excellence, especially in schools-of-need. Our leading-edge preparation delivers exceptional teachers who make an impact. We help students thrive in the classroom and in life. Since our beginning, we have recognized master educators annually, and these master educators help prepare the next generation of teachers. Our vision is one in which every classroom has a great teacher, and to realize this, we are committed to making a material difference in resolving the teacher shortage. Learn more at http://www.goldenapple.org.

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