“The amount of growth I have seen in my child is astounding. He started as a little boy who would hardly talk and has blossomed into an articulate little boy. He loves going to school.” “She’s the reason I’m very smart. She always pushed me to keep going and never let me give up. She’s a great teacher.” ”My son has an IEP for speech. Bullying has been my greatest fear. Yesterday some kids bullied him. My son broke down and told me what happened. The next day, he told me he had the best day ever. I messaged the teacher and said whatever you did, thank you. She said she had the kids who bullied him apologize in class. She said he listened the whole day and was the best student. He was at his best behavior because he felt he could trust her and that she’d protect him. Knowing my son is well taken care of and has someone to protect him is such a relief. Now he trusts her and the learning will be effortless because he knows he is safe.” ”Our daughter had been ahead of academics since pre-school. This teacher quickly detected her advanced skills, challenged her to the appropriate extent and recommended her for advanced classes. Her awareness and accurate assessments puts students on the right track to succeed in their academic journey. Her method of positively enforcing discipline via the use of recognition and rewards has had a profound impact on improving our daughter’s behavioral and social skills.” “She taught me to read, do math and she’s very nice”!
These are just a few comments from PreK-5th grade teacher nominations for the prestigious Golden Apple Teacher Awards for 2025. Parents, students and community members submitted more than 1,450 nominations for 678+ teachers in 79 Winnebago and Boone counties schools who exemplify teaching excellence. Here are this year’s nominees: Golden Apple Nominee LIST 2024-2025.
A reception to honor nominees will be held Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. District superintendents and building principals will join Golden Apple Foundation in congratulating nominees. Nominees and their administrators should RSVP to info@goldenappleofrockford.com by Wednesday, Nov. 6.
The nomination is the first stage in the selection process of teachers who represent excellence in primary 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 be teaching full time 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 in the process with classroom observations and interviews, which are conducted by community volunteers.
Five teachers will receive the Golden Apple Award and be honored at the Excellence in Education Banquet on April 25, 2025, at the Tebala Event Center. 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.