The Golden Apple Foundation Surprises Davie/Anna Jr. High Teacher Joshua Shearer with Prestigious Award for Excellence in Teaching

CHICAGO (May 5, 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 Joshua Shearer, a 4th-8th teacher at Davie/Anna Jr. High in Anna, with the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. Shearer is one of 10 teacher award recipients in Illinois. 

Following a highly competitive process, the 2026 teaching award recipients were selected from nearly 600 nominations of 4th-8th-grade teachers. 

“Great teaching shapes how students learn, grow, and see what’s possible for their future,” said Alan Mather, President of The Golden Apple Foundation. “This year’s recipients are making that impact every day through their commitment to their students and their craft. As they join the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, they will support and mentor aspiring teachers in The Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators Programs in Illinois, helping strengthen future teachers across the state.”

The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching honor outstanding teachers for having lasting, positive effects on students’ lives and school communities. Teacher recipients demonstrate, in their teaching and results, a significant, positive impact on their students’ growth and learning. 

About Joshua Shearer

Mr. Joshua Shearer, an art teacher at Davie/Anna Jr. High with 19 years of experience, currently teaches third through eighth-grade art, drawing on his personal journey to shape his classroom. Growing up with cerebral palsy in a small, rural community presented many challenges, particularly during his elementary and middle school years. By second grade, school felt overwhelming, and those feelings continued through seventh grade. In eighth grade, however, a senior student who assisted his P.E. class took an interest in him, introduced him to friends, and made him feel seen.

After nineteen years in the classroom, Shearer says the most sustainable strategy he has learned is simple: lead with love. “My old friend modeled that for me, and I carry it forward,” he says. As he tells his student teachers, “You’ve got to love them if you want them to listen. I don’t listen to people who don’t love me.”

That experience of belonging continues to guide his teaching. He intentionally creates a space where every student feels welcome, respected, and valued. Students have approached him to sponsor an Inclusive Rights Club, something he describes as one of the proudest moments of his career. He also sponsors Art Club, Chess Club, and Scholar Bowl to support students whose interests may not fit traditional molds.

In the classroom, Shearer designs units that connect art to lived experience. In a recent seventh-grade street art unit, students explored public murals and graffiti while examining their own assumptions. He begins with prompts such as, “Where have you seen street art? How did it make you feel?” and “Is graffiti art, or vandalism?” to surface students’ experiences and misconceptions. The unit deepens critical thinking about public art, explores contemporary practices, and supports personal artistic expression.

An administrator with 32 years of experience writes, “Mr. Shearer is without a doubt the most passionate fine arts instructor I have known,” noting that he works tirelessly to introduce students to the art world and instill in them an appreciation for art.

Each award recipient receives a $5,000 cash award and a paid spring sabbatical, with Northwestern University generously providing coursework at no cost. Award recipients also 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
The Golden Apple Foundation’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 through both our Golden Apple Scholars (for undergraduates) and Golden Apple Accelerators (for career-changers) programs. 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. Visit http://www.goldenapple.org for more information.

Media contact:

Avery Resendiz

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averyr@theharbingergroup.com