The Golden Apple Foundation Honors Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence Principal Brittany Green as 2022 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership Recipient

CHICAGO (May 10th, 2022) - The Golden Apple Foundation, the leading Illinois-based nonprofit committed to preparing, honoring and supporting exemplary educators who advance educational opportunities for students, today surprised Brittany Green, principal of Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence in East Saint Louis, with the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership, presented in honor of founding Golden Apple board member Stanley C. Golder. 

Following a highly competitive process, the 2022 leadership award recipient were selected from more than 100 nominations of Pre-K-12th grade school leaders. 

“School leaders like Brittany Green play a crucial role in shaping the success of students, teachers, and families in a school community,”  said Golden Apple President Alan Mather, the inaugural recipient of the Excellence in Leadership award. “Her strong leadership and commitment to excellence creates an environment where every child can reach their fullest potential. We are honored to recognize her impact, and we are thrilled that she will join the Golden Apple Academy of Educators to recruit, train, and mentor the next generation of exceptional teachers.”

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership honors exemplary performance in school leadership by a principal or head of school who has had a significant and sustained positive impact on the school, created a culture of inclusivity, and delivered dramatic student growth.

"The leader that we are celebrating today has demonstrated resilience throughout her career by staying focused on supporting her team in the interest of student growth, even through some of the most difficult of circumstances and times” said Alicia Winckler, Golden Apple CEO. “She skillfully navigates an ever-changing educational environment while ensuring academic success - prioritizing an inclusive environment where all students’ individual strengths are welcomed, recognized, and met where they are. We are grateful for her sustained commitment to preparing the next generation of Illinois’ students.”

About Brittany Green

Green makes a note that diversity, equity and inclusion are not simply “buzz words” at the Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence. In fact, they are at the very core of what makes her administrative body function. Every academic, social-emotional and disciplinary effort created at Wyvetter Younge is formed with diversity and equitable treatment in mind through a collaborative, team-based approach developed through a common mission and vision. Not only does this involve staff and school administrators, but it also incorporates the values of parent liaisons, PTA members, caregivers and additional partners whose involvement in the school creates opportunities for students to stay connected with their communities. 

In a school setting with a 95 percent Black student population, Green often reminds her staff not to pathologize or pigeonhole their pupils into mono-cultural groups. Instead, she facilitates the cultivation of individual relationships with students and ensures that staff recognize the many subcultures that exist within Wyvetter Younge. These practices are bolstered by the additional training instructors receive, which include Restorative Practices, Trauma Informed Training, Crisis Prevention Institute Training (CPI) and the Restorative Behavior Management Cycle. Finally, Green places a strong emphasis on reaching out to community groups and associations that can help address the many needs of a large student population: mental health awareness associations, LGBTQ+ rights groups, homeless shelters, meal programs and more. 

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership recipients receive a cash award of $10,000, with $5,000 for the school leader and $5,000 to the school for a project of the recipient’s choosing. Award recipients 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.

The nomination period for the 2023 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership is open. All are invited to nominate exceptional 4th-8th grade teachers and Pre-K-12th grade school leaders in Illinois at www.goldenapple.org/awards. 

Golden Apple’s social media channels will feature surprises for each of the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership recipients. Follow the news here: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn. 

About The Golden Apple FoundationThe Golden Apple Foundation’s mission is to inspire, develop and support teacher and school leader excellence, especially in schools-of-need. Our leading-edge preparation delivers exceptional teachers who make an impact. We help students thrive in the classroom and in life. Since our beginning, we have recognized master educators annually; and, these master educators help prepare the next generation of teachers through both our Golden Apple Scholars (for undergraduates) and Golden Apple Accelerators (for career-changers) programs. Our vision is one in which every classroom has a great teacher and to realize this, we are committed to making a material difference in resolving the teacher shortage. Visit http://www.goldenapple.org for more information. 

Media contact:

John Arango
(847)754-1325
johna@theharbingergroup.com