The Golden Apple Foundation Surprises Scullen Middle School Teacher Matthew White with Prestigious Award for Excellence in Teaching

CHICAGO (May 14, 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 Matthew White, a 6th through 8th-grade teacher at Scullen Middle School in Naperville, with the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. White 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 Program 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 Matthew White

When a deaf student with a cochlear implant struggled to hear his own tone on a traditional violin, most teachers would have accepted that as a limitation. But Matthew White, orchestra teacher at Scullen Middle School, collaborated with audiologists and engineers to connect an electric violin directly to the student’s implant system, creating what he calls an “epic success.” He then advocated that the school purchase the instrument to provide the student with permanent access to music.

This kind of effort is par for the course for Matthew. Every student can find a place in the curriculum. To launch the school’s first Carnatic ensemble, Matthew sought out a local guru and learned the art form himself. By doing so, he models cultural respect and lifelong learning to his students. His classroom blends Western and non-Western music in ways that challenge students to explore identity, history, and culture while developing real skills.

Matthew also goes beyond technique and teaches that being a musician is also a civic role. Students perform at nursing homes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to combat isolation, and small traditions, like saying “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit”—a British and North American superstition believed to bring good luck for the next 30 days—on the first of every month, create a sense of belonging. Parents and colleagues describe his classroom as “life-altering,” noting that students grow not only as musicians but also as confident, empathetic people.

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.

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