2022 Golden Apple Award Finalists

Mark J. Peterson of Algonquin has been teaching for 14 years, the past eight at Rockford’s Auburn High School.

Chelsea Spinello-Johnson of Rockford has been teaching for 14 years, the past six at Rockford’s Gifted Academy at Thurgood Marshall Middle School.

Heather Plourde of Rockton has been teaching for 17 years, 15 of them at Rockton’s Hononegah High School.

Hayley Gotzsche of Roscoe has been a teacher for eight years, the past three at South Beloit’s Willowbrook Middle School.

Lovina Youngman of Rockford has been teaching for 18 years, the past 16 at Belvidere Central Middle School.

Deanna Ballard of Algonquin is in her 23rd year of teaching. She teaches all types of science classes and has done so at Guilford High School for the past 10 years.

Adam Pusateri of Rockton has been a teacher for 12 years, the past five at Durand High School.

Nicole Kroepel of Poplar Grove has been teaching for 20 years, with the past 15 as an English teacher at Belvidere North High School.

Anita Bond of Rockton teaches 11th grade U.S. History and 12th grade Sociology. She has taught for 13 years, all at Hononegah.

Brooke Harp of Rockford is in her sixth year of teaching. She teaches literature to middle schoolers at Holy Family Catholic School.