News
667 Teachers Nominated for the 2027 Golden Apple Awards
 This year’s nominations offered powerful reminders of the difference educators make in the lives of local students and families. A student from Lewis Lemon School summed up their teacher’s impact: “She helps me and makes me smart.” A student from Kinnikinnick School wrote, “I really love being one of her students!”
Parents and colleagues also highlighted teachers’ lasting influence. A parent from Gregory Elementary School said, “As a bilingual educator, he has the unique ability to make students and their families feel understood, included, and truly seen. He inspires and makes a difference that his students will remember long after they leave his classroom.” A Rockford Lutheran teacher said, “She has helped me grow as an educator. Her ability to connect with students and get them to engage is unmatched. She is dedicated and determined to make each student successful. I’ve seen her work in person and she has done nothing but inspire me daily.” These are just a few comments from the PreK-5th grade teacher nominations for the prestigious 2027 Golden Apple Teacher Awards. Parents, students and community members submitted 1,474 nominations for 667 teachers in 70 schools across Winnebago and Boone Counties. These teachers are making a positive difference in students’ lives. See the full list of nominees here. A reception to honor nominees will be held Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. Golden Apple Board members and members of the Teacher Academy will join Golden Apple Foundation in congratulating nominees. The nomination is the first step in the process to select teachers who represent excellence in elementary school teaching. The next step is for teachers to honor the nominations with self-reflective essays and letters of recommendation. Nominees must have five years of teaching experience, be a certified teacher and teach in a PreK-5th grade classroom in Winnebago or Boone County. A selection committee will review the teachers’ professional portfolios and choose 20 teachers to continue the process with classroom observations and interviews, which are conducted by community volunteers. Six teachers will receive the Golden Apple Award and be honored at the Excellence in Education Banquet on April 23, 2027. Each Golden Apple Teacher will receive a $1,000 cash award, a professional development stipend through the Regional Office of Education, and a Rockford University Scholarship. They will also be inducted into the Golden Apple Teacher Academy. Golden Apple Foundation recognizes teachers and empowers them with classroom resources to improve educational outcomes in our community. The Teacher Recognition Program rewards excellence in the classroom and encourages honored teachers to use their strengths through the Golden Apple Teacher Academy. Members work to increase public awareness of educational excellence in our schools, promote the profession of education and provide a positive educational outreach to the community. |