The Golden Apple Foundation Surprises Shelbyville Community Unit School District Teacher Timothy Aberle with Prestigious Award for Excellence in Teaching
CHICAGO (May 9, 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 Timothy Aberle, a 9-12th-grade teacher at Shelbyville Community Unit School District in Shelbyville, with the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. Shelbyville is one of 11 teacher award recipients in Illinois.
Following a highly competitive process, the 2025 teaching award recipients were selected from more than 470 nominations of 9th-12th-grade teachers.
"Exceptional teachers ignite curiosity, build confidence, and create pathways to lifelong success for their students," said Alan Mather, President of The Golden Apple Foundation. "The educators we honor today exemplify teaching at its finest. They blend passion with expertise and innovation with compassion. As they join our community of excellence, these individuals will help us strengthen the teaching profession across Illinois, inspiring and mentoring emerging educators who will shape countless young minds for generations to come."
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 Timothy Aberle
Timothy Aberle is a social studies and English teacher at Shelbyville High School, dedicated to measurable academic growth and innovative instruction. His leadership has contributed to a graduation rate increase from 89% to 100% and major gains in science (33% to 76%), math (17% to 40%), and English (22% to 32%) proficiency.
In addition to classroom instruction, he prepares students for future careers in education through the future teacher cohort, offering mentorship and real-world learning experiences. His approach to history emphasizes civic engagement, using mock trials and case studies to challenge students to analyze historical events and their modern implications. In English, he enriches discussions by pairing classic texts like The Great Gatsby with A Lesson Before Dying, using literature to provide windows into different perspectives of the American experience.
Collaboration is central to his work. He actively discusses new curriculum and teaching methods with colleagues, seeking feedback to improve his instruction.
Recognized as one of the top educators by his principal, Timothy continues to drive student success and academic leadership at Shelbyville High School.
Each award recipient receives a $5,000 cash award and a spring sabbatical provided by Northwestern University 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 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
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:
Emily Evans
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emilye@theharbingergroup.com