Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Bucktown Preschool Teacher Who 'Lets Kids Be Kids' Wins Golden Apple

By Alisa Hauser | May 18, 2015 9:44am

Golden Apple winner Phyllis LaCour, a preschool teacher at Pulaski International School of Chicago.

BUCKTOWN — A preschool teacher from Pulaski International School of Chicago who is a staunch advocate for "children's right to play" has won a prestigious Golden Apple, the highly competitive award given for excellence in teaching.

Just nine other educators across Illinois won this year.

"She is amazing," parent Anthony Nicholson said of Phyllis LaCour.

LaCour, who got her bachelor's degree at Columbia College and her master's with an English as Second Language endorsement from Concordia University, is in her eighth school year of teaching for Chicago Public Schools.

She was chosen from a pool of 600 nominees by the nonprofit Golden Apple group, which is "committed to celebrating and developing great teachers with the ability and passion to make life-changing differences in the lives of students," according to a news release.

Nicholson, a Logan Square resident who has a 4-year-old son, Jamie Nicholson-Creswell, in LaCour's class, said LaCour manages to guide and direct "the littlest students" amid an environment that could "easily turn into supervised chaos or babysitting."

Nicholson, who has sat in on his children's classes, said his older son, Andre,  who studied under LaCour two years ago, would go on walks where LaCour encouraged the students to get muddy and learn about branches and trees.

"She is supportive of letting them be kids, which can be stamped out way too early. She lets them enjoy school, and it is so impressive that she loves all of the kids, and it comes through," he said.

Pulaski's principal, Arlana Bedard, said last week that the school's community is "thrilled" about LaCour, whom she described as exemplifying qualities of being committed to children, reflective, collaborative and open-minded, receiving the award.

"[LaCour] is focused on knowing and understanding each of her students, and providing the most engaging and supportive learning environment for them," Bedard said.

Pulaski International Academy, 2230 W. McLean Ave., is a CPS neighborhood school that converted to an International Baccalaureate curriculum candidate school during the 2010-11 school year.

Last year the school became one of just seven in the Chicago Public School's system to offer the IB curriculum for students as early as preschool.

LaCour was among a team of early childhood specialists that helped to create the CPS early childhood curriculum framework and guiding principles for standards of best early childhood practices, according to a biography on the school's website.

A fun fact about LaCour: She has six cats, named Za, Zuri, Zimba, December, Pum Pum, and Moonpie.

Reached by email, LaCour said she is "so, so, so happy and thankful that the work that I do is appreciated, supported and recognized."

"I will continue to use best practices and advocate for children's right to play and the use of the arts in school. I give my heart and soul to my students and my work. I will never forget what a parent said to me, 'Thank you for allowing me to see the world through my child's eyes,'" LaCour said.

Now in its 30th year, the Golden Apple recognizes outstanding full-time teachers from public and private school throughout Illinois' Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.

The 2015 Golden Apple was given to pre-K through third-grade teachers, while next year's award will focus on high school instructors.

Each Golden Apple Award recipient receives a tuition-free, spring quarter sabbatical to study at Northwestern University as well as a $5,000 cash award. For more info, visit the Golden Apple website.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: