2026 Golden Apple Award Finalists

Gregory Johnson has been teaching social studies at Roosevelt Community Education Center for six years.

Michaelle Jaeger has been teaching for 23 years -- the past three at Harlem Middle School, where she teaches sixth grade science.

Christopher Galetsis has been teaching for six years -- five of them at Rockford's Auburn High School, where he teaches Global Studies, College/Career and Social Problems.

Dana Freedlund has been teaching for 31 years, the past 29 at Roscoe Middle School, where she teaches English Language Arts/Reading Intervention.

Joseph Free has been teaching for 13 years, the past two at Rockford's Jefferson High School, where he teaches English.

Nicole Frazer has been teaching for 16 years, all at Rockford's Jefferson High School, where she teaches Government, Economics and Intro to Teaching.

John Deery has been teaching for 16 years, the past eight at Belvidere High School, where he teaches AP Language and World Mythology.

John Deery has been teaching for 16 years, the past eight at Belvidere High School, where he teaches AP Language and World Mythology.

Leyre Bilbao-Luri has been teaching for 10 years, with three years at Belvidere South Middle School, where she teaches Spanish Language Arts.