Nominations Are Open for 2009 Golden Apple Awards

Nominations are open September 1 through December 12 for the 2009 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching.

To be eligible for the 24th annual awards, nominees must be full-time classroom teachers currently teaching in grades pre-K through 3rd at a public or non-public school located in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and Will counties of Illinois. Nominees also must be committed to continue teaching for at least two years after receiving the award.

Ten award winners will receive a paid sabbatical to study tuition-free at Northwestern University, a laptop computer, $3,000, induction into the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, and public recognition on a one-hour WTTW/11 TV special.

Award finalists will be announced in March; the 10 winners will be named in May.

Nomination forms are available at the Golden Apple Web site - www.goldenapple.org (direct link is http://www.goldenapple.org/pages/a_teacher/21.php) - or by calling 1-866/912-9868, or writing to Golden Apple, 8 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60603. For more information, call Nellie Quintana at 312/407-0433 ext. 121.