Thursday, May 8, 2008
Golden Apple Foundation Honorees Know anyone on the list?  Me, neither.  Congrats to all of those involved.  From CPS:

        Six Chicago Public Schools teachers celebrated National Teacher Appreciation Day by receiving the 2008 Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence in grades 4 through 8 Tuesday; eight others were named Teachers of Distinction.  It is the most Golden Apples for CPS since 1996.

            Mayor Richard M. Daley and CPS Chief Education Officer Barbara Eason-Watkins surprised Brooke Thompson, music teacher at Peirce School of International Studies Tuesday morning with the award and a basket of apples. Also surprised Tuesday morning were Monica Gil, 7^th grade, Gray Elementary; Samina Khan, 6^th-8^th grade science, and Donnell White, 7^th-8^th grade math, Clark Academic Preparatory Magnet High School; Natalie Neris-Guereca, 5^th grade, Pershing West Magnet School; John Nieciak, 6^th-8^th grade language arts, Sheridan Math and Science Academy. 

            Clark Academic is the first CPS school to have two winners in the same year.  This year also marks the first time that three CPS schools had two finalists each:  Clark, Pershing and Sherman School of Excellence. 

            The teachers were among 31 Chicago area finalists – 13 from CPS – culled from 850 nominees in the annual competition sponsored by the Golden Apple Foundation.  The Foundation is dedicated to recognizing and developing excellence in teaching.  The prestigious award includes a tuition-free spring term sabbatical at Northwestern University, a personal computer from IBM, $3,000, and membership in the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, a group of 220 expert teachers who work together to ensure that all children have the excellent teachers they deserve.

    For the second year Golden Apple announced Teachers of Distinction, second-tier award recognizing superior and laudable teaching.  Eight of the 13 Teachers of Distinction are from CPS, including:  Margaret Burns, 5^thgrade, Gallistel Language Academy; Jennifer Cho, 4^th grade, National Teachers Academy; Lisa Espinosa, 7^th grade, Ruiz School; Virginia Kogen, 7^th-8^th grades, Madero School; Mary Meade, 1^st-8^thgrade, science teacher, Christopher School; Mark Nelson, K-8^thgrade, fine arts, Stone Academy; Esther Ohito, 6^th-8^thgrade, English, Pershing West Magnet School; Claudine Randolph, 5^thgrade, University of Chicago Charter School – Donoghue Elementary.