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Golden Apple Award Finalists In Chicago Revealed

By Joe Ward | March 21, 2016 12:12pm
 10 teachers from Chicago are finalists for the Golden Apple teaching award this year.
10 teachers from Chicago are finalists for the Golden Apple teaching award this year.
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CHICAGO — Nine Chicago teachers and three principals have been named finalists for the Golden Apple, a yearly award given to standout educators.

Golden Apple, which awards Illinois high school teachers who excel in the classroom, revealed Monday the list of 30 finalists for this year's "excellence in teaching" award. Of those finalists, 10 will be awarded a Golden Apple at the April 2 ceremony.

The finalists who teach at Chicago schools include:

• Emily Drown, Morgan Park Academy in Morgan Park

• Mark Janka, Young Women's Leadership Charter School of Chicago in Bronzeville

• Dennis Kass, Infinity Math, Science and Technology High School in South Lawndale

• Todd Katz, Whitney Young High School in Near West Side

• Erin Neidt, John Hancock College Prep in Archer Heights

• Leo Park, Northside College Prep in North Park

• Benjamin Walker, Walter Payton College Prep, Near North Side

• Claire Walter, The Wolcott School in West Town

• Katherine Whitington, Julian High School in Washington Heights

The finalists were chosen out of 400 nominations throughout Chicago and the suburbs.

The non-profit also awards a principal with the Golden Apple Leadership award, and three of the four finalists are from Chicago. Those finalists include:

• Dana Butler, Ruiz Elementary in Little Village

• Erin Roche, Prescott Elementary in Lincoln Park

• Mauricio Segovia, Darwin Elementary in Logan Square

The finalists will go through a final round of review and classroom observation before winners are announced, Golden Apple said in a news release.

Winners will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a tuition-free spring quarter sabbatical to study at Northwestern University, according to Golden Apple.

Golden Apple's award ceremony will be held April 2 at Hilton Rosemont Chicago O'Hare, 5550 N. River Road. For more information on the ceremony of the finalists, visit www.goldenapple.org/celebration.

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