The Golden Apple Foundation Honors North-Grand High School Principal Emily Feltes as 2025 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership Recipient
CHICAGO (May 1, 2025) - 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 Emily Feltes, principal of North-Grand High School in Chicago, 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, Feltes was selected as an award recipient from more than 85 nominations of Pre-K-12th grade school leaders.
"Great school leaders create environments where both students and teachers can flourish. They're the architects of school culture and the catalysts for academic excellence,” said Alan Mather, President of The Golden Apple Foundation. “Emily Feltes exemplifies the impact that visionary leadership can have on an entire school community. We're excited to welcome her into our Golden Apple Academy of Educators as we collectively work to inspire and develop the next generation of exceptional teachers."
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.
“Emily Feltes stands out for their ability to create a school culture where excellence thrives and every student can reach their potential,” said Alicia Winckler, CEO of Golden Apple. “Her leadership inspires educators and students to become the best versions of themselves, and that is exactly the kind of impact that strengthens education across Illinois."
About Emily Feltes
Emily Feltes serves as Principal at North-Grand High School in Chicago. Under her leadership, the school has achieved remarkable success, maintaining a "Level 1 – Good Standing” rating on the CPS High School Quality Rating Report for three consecutive years and transforming the school culture from "Moderately Organized" to "Well Organized" as measured by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research.
Her impact is clear in student outcomes, where she has increased the percentage of Freshmen on Track from 76.4% to 90% in a year and has consistently kept it above 90% since. She has also raised the four-year graduation rate from 69% to exceeding the District's average 80% graduation rate.
Feltes has also secured major funding for post-secondary access. Her leadership style emphasizing “kindness and accountability” has earned her multiple awards, including Cahn Distinguished Principal Fellow and Administrator of the Year award.
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. 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 2026 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership is open. All are invited to nominate exceptional 4th-8th 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.
Media contact:
Emily Evans
937.206.6039
emilye@theharbingergroup.com