The Golden Apple Foundation Surprises Marvin Camras Children's Engineering School Teacher Sara Mazhary with Prestigious Award for Excellence in Teaching

CHICAGO (May 12, 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 Sara Mazhary, a K-3rd, 5th, and 7th-grade teacher at Marvin Camras Children's Engineering School in Chicago, with the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. Mazhary 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 Sara Mazhary

Sara Mazhary, a STEM teacher at Marvin Camras Children’s Engineering School, built a comprehensive STEM curriculum when none existed. Drawing on her Master of Education in STEM and real-world design-thinking practices—a human-centered, collaborative approach to problem-solving—she developed five-week units, complete with lessons, slide decks, and supporting materials. She ensures the curriculum is accessible to all learners, including students with IEPs and English language learners, translating materials into Spanish and using digital tools to foster inclusion.

Aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Engineering, students define real-world problems, compare solutions, and design physical or digital prototypes within budget and material constraints. One group might design an accessibility solution for a teenage soccer player who lost a limb, another group might address plastic pollution, and a third group might create tools for individuals with arthritis. Before building, students sketch designs, debate trade-offs, and justify decisions, developing Engineering Habits of Mind such as ethical reasoning, systems thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

An administrator describes Mazhary as a “vital resource, thought partner and coach,” whose work “transcends mere effective teaching” and elevates instructional standards across the school community.

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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