68 Stateline teachers nominated for 2024 Golden Apple Awards
Five finalists will receive the prestigious awards at a Rockford banquet in April 2024.
More than 68 Stateline middle and high school teachers have been nominated for the 2023 Golden Apple Awards, the most prestigious awards for Winnebago and Boone counties educators. Out of hundreds of nominees, the list will be winnowed down to twenty teachers who will be interviewed and observed in their classrooms. Only five teachers will receive Golden Apple Awards, first in surprise classroom presentations and then at a banquet in April 2024, which include cash awards and a paid educational sabbatical.
The Golden Apple Foundation has been honoring local teachers for 26 years. A separate Chicago-based Golden Apple organization gives awards to teachers statewide, emphasizing schools-of-need in Illinois and New Mexico.
Each year, different grade levels are highlighted. To be eligible for this series of awards, a nominee must currently be teaching full time in a 6th – 12th grade classroom. Both public and private school teachers are eligible.
In March 2023, two local third grade teachers, Crystal Ellis at Stone Creek School in Roscoe and Sarah Shoevlin at Prairie Hill Elementary School in South Beloit, received the honor.
In March 2022, two local literature teachers, Kelli Houghton of Willowbrook Middle School in South Beloit, and Jean Chambers of Hononegah Community High School in Rockton, were given the award.
The 2024 nominees from Stateline schools include:
Hononegah Community High School
- Melissa Angeles
- Kelley Beard
- Rebecca Brauns
- Ann Chapetta
- Amy Dalke
- Elizabeth Eiss
- William Elliot
- Lassen Fleege
- Nic Haab
- Alex Hartz
- Amanda Harvey
- Susan Hays
- Bryan Jenkins
- Alex Krahl
- Jeremiah Kramper
- Kaylee Libby
- Josh Martin
- Amanda McCoy
- Maggie Moore
- Kristy Neumer
- Heather Plourde
- Rebecca Robinson
- Jennifer Simpson
- Jessica Starr
- Arra Van Galder
- Michael Weeden
- Justin Wieman
Roscoe Middle School
- Colleen Alms
- Kim Andreas
- Steven Bergler
- Diana Boelte
- Drake Bolin
- Mychael Drews
- Tricia DuPre
- Dana Gugliuzza
- Louis Gugliuzza
- Tracy Hunter
- Tracy Jasinski
- Molly Lengjak
- Tyler Lovegren
- Chad McLarty
- Melissa Middleton
- Megan Nausner
- Lily Picot
- Chris Walsh
- Brooke Zammuto
Shirland School
- Rebecca Clinite
- Hannah Pals
- Mark Snyder
South Beloit High School
- Kala Niedermeier
- Steven Picavet
- Matt Stucky
South Beloit Junior High School
- Annie Johnson
- Samantha Redieske
Stephen Mack Middle School
- Jenna Arends
- Leah Carter
- Bryan Collins
- Beth DeVries
- Carol Flohr
- Dalton Holcomb
- Amy Hommema
- Diana Kelly
- Jessica Krause
- Penny Lee
- Luke McMillan
- Ashley Mumma
- Sally Southworth
- Olivia Spera
- Cori Taylor
Willowbrook Middle School
- Sara Betti
- Doug Elfstrom
- Tom Kalhagen
- Michael Rhines
