Golden Apple Surprises Ulysses S. Grant Middle School Teacher with Prestigious Award for Excellence in Teaching
Gina Romer is one of 10 Illinois teachers in grades 4-8 recognized for superior performance in the classroom and school community
CHICAGO (May 14, 2020) - Golden Apple, the leading Illinois nonprofit committed to preparing, honoring and supporting exemplary educators who advance educational opportunities for students, today surprised Gina Romer, a sixth-grade teacher at Ulysses S. Grant Middle School in Springfield, with the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. For the first time in Golden Apple’s history, the awardees are being notified differently than in the full-school environment, and Romer was surprised with a parade in her neighborhood by students, parents and colleagues.
Following a highly competitive process, the 2020 award recipients were selected from more than 730 nominations of 4th-8th grade teachers. The demand for recognition throughout the state was profound, with nominations for outstanding teachers and leaders received from 64 Illinois counties.
“Exemplary teachers create an extraordinary ripple effect that benefits students, transforms schools and strengthens communities,” said Golden Apple President Alan Mather. “We look forward to Gina Romer joining our mission to prepare the next generation of highly effective teachers for Illinois schools through our Scholars and Accelerators programs. Our award recipients play a major role in Golden Apple’s efforts to make a material difference in resolving the teacher shortage crisis in Illinois."
The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching honors outstanding teachers for their roles in having lasting, positive effects on students’ lives and building stronger communities. Teacher award recipients demonstrate -- in their teaching and results -- significant, positive impact on their students’ growth and learning. Fellow educators, students, parents and community members nominate teachers for the awards. Teachers may not self-nominate.
“We recognize the recipients of the Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching to thank them for their countless contributions, to elevate the importance of the teaching profession for all to see, and to inspire others to positively impact their communities by pursuing careers in education,” said Alicia Winckler, CEO of Golden Apple.
Award recipients are selected by master educators who understand and recognize instructional best practices and who utilize professional standards to evaluate exemplary teachers and school leaders. Members of the selection committee viewed video evidence of instruction and observed finalists’ teaching in-person in their classrooms during a comprehensive day which also included interviews with finalists’ colleagues, school leaders, students, parents, and community members prior to school building closures in Illinois.
About Gina Romer
Romer, a sixth-grade social emotional learning and English language arts teacher, creates safe spaces and helps foster development of critical life skills for the most fragile and challenged students. She teaches in Grant Middle School’s School Within A School (SWIS) program, which was designed to help students who have behavioral issues or feel too overstimulated in a regular classroom setting learn in a one-on-one environment. She routinely seeks learning opportunities within the local community for her students to develop empathy, responsibility, compassion and kindness. Her students learn through volunteering at a local breadline, visiting residents and helping to care for the grounds at a local assisted living facility, and bi-weekly clean-up outings to pick up trash in the six blocks surrounding their school. Romer has started multiple clubs for students as a means to help them find their place in the community, including a gay-straight alliance, nature explorers group and board game enthusiasts club. Restorative circles are a key component of her approach to helping her students learn to de-escalate violence and tensions. Thanks to Romer, her students with anxiety, anger-management issues and chronic absenteeism grow into compassionate, empathetic learners who want to come to school every day. Parents, students and colleagues of Romer say she has changed and saved the lives of countless students. “She will never give up on you,” said one.
As a highly valued component of this recognition, Northwestern University, Golden Apple’s partner for more than 30 years, generously provides a Spring Sabbatical to award recipients at no cost.
"Both Northwestern and Golden Apple are dedicated to developing teachers who will transform the lives of their students and we are proud to host these master teachers on the next step in their professional journeys in education," said Timothy Dohrer, Ph.D., Director of the Master of Science in Education Program at Northwestern University’s School of Education & Social Policy.
In addition, each Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching recipient receives a $5,000 cash award. Award recipients become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, a community of educators who support current and future teachers and deepen the learning of students. Fellows play an important role in preparing the next generation of teachers by providing instruction and mentorship to future teachers in the Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators programs, each of which is dedicated to addressing the teacher shortage in Illinois.
The nomination period for the 2021 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership is open. All are invited to nominate exceptional Pre-K-third grade Illinois teachers and Pre-K-12th grade school leaders 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. All press materials for the surprise notifications can be found at www.goldenapple.org/awards.
About Golden AppleGolden Apple’s mission is to inspire, develop and support teacher and school leader excellence in Illinois, 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. Our vision is an Illinois 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 throughout Illinois. Visit http://www.goldenapple.org for more information.
Media contact:
David Pickard
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davidp@theharbingergroup.com