Golden Apple names Chicago-area winners

Golden Apple has announced its recipients of the Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching in the Chicago area.

Darshan Jain, a geometry and pre-calculus teacher at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire and an IEA member, was one of the 10 winners.

Jain told Golden Apple that his teaching skills came from those who taught him. He learned from them to have fun, respect others’ ideas and to encourage thoughtful debate. He encourages a free-thinking atmosphere and participates in the learning process with his students. He also believes that the classroom should be a safe haven for students to disagree, make mistakes, to question and to promote alternative solutions.

Each winner receives a tuition-free, six-month sabbatical to study at Northwestern University and a $3,000 cash award. They also become members of the Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators.

“Every year we have an amazing group of recipients and this year’s teachers are no different,” said Golden Apple President and CEO Dominic Belmonte. “We believe teachers should have the opportunity to develop their ideas and a forum to share their thoughts on improving education.

Golden Apple currently is celebrating its 25^th year.

Golden Apple also has chosen its 2010 Teachers of Distinction in the Chicago area and of the 20 outstanding educators chosen from a field of 562 nominees, four are IEA members.

These teachers’ work was noted by the selection committee and the teachers are recognized for their contribution to teaching and are asked to participate in Golden Apple programs.

All of the honorees are high school teachers and Golden Apple has been recognizing outstanding Chicago-area educators annually since 1986.

The winners of Teachers of Distinction Award are: Mike DiMatteo, Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale; Christopher Esposito of Downers Grove South High School in Downers Grove; Mark Vondracek of Evanston Township High School in Evanston; and Jeffrey Yordy of Glenbrook South High School in Glenview.

Golden Apple accepts nominations for the awards each fall. Anyone may nominate an eligible teacher. Teachers may not nominate themselves and must be full-time classroom teachers at public or non-public schools in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake or Will counties. The awards rotate grade levels on a yearly basis.

Visit Golden Apple for more information about nominating teachers, more information about Golden Apple and a complete list of winners of both awards.