Chicago, IL (PRWEB) March 24, 2017
Golden Apple, a leading nonprofit committed to celebrating and developing great teachers, today surprised two local teachers with the prestigious 2017 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. The awards recognize and honor outstanding teachers for their role in building a stronger, better-educated society.
This year’s award recipients were selected from a pool of more than 600 nominations, and represent 4th-8th grade teachers throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Recipients were nominated by their students, community members/parents and colleagues who have directly engaged with them and benefitted from their talent and passion.
Mrs. Andrea Beaty, fourth grade ELA, science, social studies, math, and social emotional teacher
Serena Hills Elementary School, Chicago Heights
Beaty’s 4th grade class starts each day with a warm up song that she leads while standing atop her desk, followed by a Peace Circle during which students share feelings and discuss the “mountains” they are working to overcome. On the walls are photos and goal statements of each student and written atop each of their desks are personal “power words” to remind them they are empowered to conquer personal challenges. At the start of the school year, students apply and interview for specific jobs in the classroom such as photographer, writer or classroom store manager. Through the interviews, Beaty learns her students’ strengths, interests and needs, which she builds upon through the year. She fosters a community of learners who value each other as OHANA (family) and who believe that no one should be left behind or forgotten. She frequently reminds her students not to “hurt another’s heart” and to “have a grateful heart for what you do have.”
Mrs. Michelle Ann Kedzierski, sixth through eighth grade reading, literature, and language arts instructor
Orland Junior High, Orland Park
As a teacher in a culturally diverse school district, Kedzierski uses literature as an entrée to exploring critical social issues, such as bullying. She believes ardently in the potential literature holds to open minds and inspire positive choices and behaviors. At a time when participation in hateful practices is conducted online anonymously and often, she believes it is essential for middle school students to explore the potential consequences of choices. Characters in stories provide the perfect forum for gaining such understanding. Her students cite her compassion, enthusiasm for learning and interesting use of technology as reasons they appreciate her. Parents in the community appreciate her devotion to their children and to many school activities, such as the annual eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C., and set designing for the school play.
Additional information and photos of award recipients can be found on social media (#teachgolden):
Twitter: https://twitter.com/goldenapple_il
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goldenappleillinois
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/goldenapplefound
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenapple_il/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenapplephotos
As part of the awards selection process, distinguished teachers, college/university professors, administrators, and former Golden Apple Award recipients served on Golden Apple’s selection committee. Committee members applied research-based professional standards to identify teachers who exemplify the highest standards and practices of the teaching profession. The selection process included classroom observations of the finalists and interviews with colleagues, administrators, students, and parents.
“We continue to see conclusive evidence that being taught by an effective teacher has significant consequences on student achievement. Great teachers change students’ lives for the better,” said Dominic Belmonte, CEO of Golden Apple. “Our 2017 award recipients have distinguished themselves through their talents, creative approaches to powerful modern teaching and devotion to their students. We salute them for earning the honor of receiving the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.”
For more than 30 years, Golden Apple has recognized outstanding teachers throughout Illinois each year. Created by founders Mike and Pat Koldyke, Golden Apple’s mission is to inspire, develop and support teacher and school leader excellence in Illinois, especially in schools-of-need. Each Golden Apple Award recipient receives a tuition-free, spring quarter sabbatical to study at Northwestern University. Each recipient also receives a $5,000 cash award. Perhaps most importantly, award recipients become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, giving them a stronger voice and a larger stage from which to make a difference in education within Illinois and nationally.
Golden Apple award recipients play a critical role in furthering the programs of Golden Apple, particularly as members of the faculty who help prepare the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program’s aspiring teachers to serve in high-need schools. The Scholars program provides extensive preparation, advising and financial support to aspiring teachers in college and mentorship throughout their early years of teaching. Golden Apple recruits for the program from the same communities and schools-of-need where Scholars will teach. Eighty-two percent of Scholars who enter the profession remain full-time teachers beyond their program commitment of five years, despite the challenging environments in which they work. Golden Apple Fellows strengthen the ecosystem of excellent educators who are committed to advancing the field through mentoring, collaboration and inspiration of future teachers.
Golden Apple also announced the recipient of the 2017 Stanley C. Golder Award, which honors an exceptional principal/head of school.
The 2017 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Leadership recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony on May 20 at WTTW/Channel 11 Studios in Chicago. The dynamic program will highlight the incredible work of the recipients and all they do to transform teachers and teaching, enriching both students’ and teachers’ lives. The event will be live streamed, and include live interviews with former students and guests of the award recipients. WTTW will broadcast the awards in a one-hour television program following the event. Check goldenapple.org/awards for updated information on the broadcast dates.
About Golden Apple
2017 marks Golden Apple’s 32nd year of innovating teacher preparation and leadership to transform both the careers of teachers as well as the lives of students in Illinois. Many of our Golden Apple Award recipients give back by participating as instructors, academic coaches, and mentors in both our aspiring teachers program (i.e., “The Golden Apple Scholars”) and our professional development program (i.e., “The Golden Apple STEM Institute”).
Because the critical contributor to student achievement is the quality of the teacher in the classroom, Golden Apple provides exceptional teacher preparation for teachers at all stages of their careers. Our focus is on advancing educational excellence for Illinois’ most under-served students. Scholars are recruited from the communities in which they return to serve - with a passion for teaching and a drive to create positive change for young people in their communities. We enhance their college education with exemplary advanced teacher preparation, superior resources and lifelong support, and, they, in turn, stay in teaching at a school-of-need in Illinois for five or more years. Over 600 Scholars are currently preparing to become teachers in schools-of-need throughout Illinois.
Golden Apple is comprised of recognized superior educators, including Golden Apple Award recipients and finalists, leading a passionate team of devoted staff with technical and program expertise, as well as a connected and committed board of directors charged with overseeing our strategic vision. Visit http://www.goldenapple.org for more information.