Mundelein High School’s Sara Blair Winter-Rosenberg is a finalist for the 2019 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching. She is in her seventh year of teaching Spanish for Heritage Learners at MHS.

Following a competitive process, 32 high school educators were selected as finalists for the award – just six percent of more than 550 nominations.

“The historic opportunity to bring the recognition of the Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching to all of the schools and teachers in Illinois is thrilling for us and we are delighted to honor these outstanding 32 finalists,” said Alan Mather, president of Golden Apple.

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching honors outstanding teachers for their roles in having lasting, positive effects on students’ lives and builds stronger communities. Teacher finalists 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. All award finalists will be honored Saturday, February 23 at the Golden Apple Celebration of Excellence to be held at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

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 will observe finalists’ teaching in person in their classrooms – a comprehensive day which includes direct observation of in-classroom teaching accompanied by interviewing finalists’ colleagues, school leaders, students, parents and community members.

As a highly-valued component of this recognition, Northwestern University, Golden Apple’s partner for more than 30 years, provides a Spring Sabbatical to award recipients at no cost. In addition, each Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching recipient receives a $5,000 cash award. They also 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. An important part of a Fellows’ mission is to share their expertise and mentor Golden Apple Scholars, who are aspiring teachers with a desire to teach in Illinois’ schools-of-need.