Golden Apple Foundation is pleased to announce the names of 20 teachers from Winnebago and Boone County who have been selected to move forward in the process for the 2020 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching. These talented PreK - 5th grade teachers were chosen by a selection committee of community volunteers who had the difficult task of selecting only 20 teachers from a large group of worthy nominees.

Please join us in congratulating the following excellent teachers….

Kimberly Brace
Whitehead Elementary - Rockford
2nd Grade

Laura Brooks
Whitman Post Elementary - Rockton
3rd Grade

Karissa Dooley
Clark Elementary School - South Beloit
Kindergarten

Nikki Gallentine
Prairie Hill Elementary School - South Beloit
4th Grade

Heather Geary
Whitehead Elementary - Rockford
4th Grade

Lori Granite
Rockford Christian - Rockford
JK4-5 STEAM

Laura Greier
Nashold Early Childhood Center - Rockford
Early Childhood

Tui Harned
Nashold Early Childhood Center - Rockford
Early Childhood

Beth Hubner
All Saints Catholic Academy - Rockford
4th Grade

Angela Hulsey
West View Elementary - Rockford
1st Grade

Lisa Istad
Durand Elementary School - Durand
5th Grade

Rebecca Kallstrom
Fairview Early Childhood Center - Rockford
Early Childhood

Patricia Magallanes
Washington STEM Academy - Belvidere
4th Grade Dual Language

Heidi Milner
Ledgewood School - Roscoe
Kindergarten

Danielle Peterson
Prairie Hill Elementary - South Beloit
Blended Pre-K

Tiffany Russey
Conklin Elementary - Rockford
2nd Grade

Mallori Sage
Whitehead Elementary - Rockford
3rd Grade

Allison Schmidt
Washington STEM Academy - Belvidere
3rd Grade Dual Language

Miranda Thompson
Donald C. Parker Center - Machesney Park
Kindergarten

Jackie Weerda
Ledgewood School - Roscoe
Kindergarten

These teachers will be observed in their classrooms by trained community volunteers on three separate occasions between Jan. 21 and Feb. 18, 2020. The next step in the selection process after observations is an interview. The process culminates with the selection of five teachers who will receive the prestigious Golden Apple Award in surprise classroom presentations featured by WTVO/FOX 39 and the Rockford Register Star.

Each Golden Apple award winning teacher will receive a cash award; a professional development stipend; a Rockford University Scholarship and a computer compliments of Entré Computer Solutions. In addition, they will be inducted into the Golden Apple Teacher Academy where, as members, they will work to increase public awareness of educational excellence in our schools, promote the profession of education and provide professional development training and mentoring to new and veteran teachers.

Golden Apple Foundation is celebrating its 24th year of taking positive steps to achieve improved education in Winnebago and Boone counties. The Annual Golden Apple Banquet recognizing Excellence in Education and honoring the Golden Apple finalists will be held Friday, April 24, 2020, at Giovanni's, and presented by Bergstrom Inc. Charitable Foundation.

Golden Apple Foundation inspires, recognizes and supports excellence in education in our community. For more information, contact Jennifer Stark at 815-226-4180 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..