The Golden Apple Foundation surprised Woodland Elementary School fifth grade teacher Chelsea Young with the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.
The annual award, which recognizes and honors outstanding teachers for their role in building a stronger, better-educated society was presented to Ms. Young in her classroom in front of her students, family, and Joliet Public Schools District 86 Administrators.
Chelsea Young is one of only 10 teacher award recipients in Illinois to receive this annual award. Following a highly competitive process, the 2023 teaching award recipients were selected from more than 570 nominations of 4th-8th grade teachers.
“We are so proud of Chelsea for receiving this highly respected award,” said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse.
“She is an amazing young teacher who deeply cares about her students and makes a tremendous impact on their lives.” added Woodland Elementary School Principal Kim Gordon.
"These remarkable teachers have shown their dedication, creativity and impact on their students and schools. They have also contributed to their professional communities by sharing their best practices, collaborating with their peers and mentoring new teachers,” said Alan Mather, President of The Golden Apple Foundation. “They are not only exemplary teachers, but also influential leaders. The 2023 award recipients will join our mission to impact the lives of even more students by supporting the next generation of great teachers through our teacherpreparation programs."
The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching honor outstanding teachers for having lasting, positive effects on students’ lives and school communities. Teacher recipients demonstrate – in their teaching and results – significant, positive impact on their students’ growth and learning.
“These outstanding educators have demonstrated their commitment, passion and impact consistently with their students and in their communities,” said Alicia Winckler, CEO of The Golden Apple Foundation. “They are not only making a difference in teaching, but are also inspiring community leaders and lifelong learners. We are honored to recognize them and support them as they advance their learning and continue to evolve as educational influencers.”
AboEach award recipient receives a $5,000 cash award and a spring sabbatical provided byNorthwestern University at no cost. Award recipients also become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, a community of educators who play an important role in preparing the next generation of teachers in the Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators programs – which are dedicated to addressing the teacher shortage in Illinois.