Lake Bluff Choral Director Named As 2017 Golden Apple Finalist

LAKE BLUFF, IL — Ann Cvitkovic, director of choral activities at Lake Bluff Middle School, has been named one of 34 finalists for the 2017 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching, which recognize outstanding 4th-8th grade teachers in Illinois.

This year’s finalists were selected from a pool of more than 600 nominations, and represent teachers throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Golden Apple is a leading nonprofit committed to celebrating and developing great teachers with the ability and passion to make life-changing differences in the lives of students.

“Golden Apple has championed for decades the belief that superior teaching quality directly improves every child’s educational experience,” said Dominic Belmonte, CEO of Golden Apple. “These finalists are shining examples of the transformative power excellence in teaching plays in improving students’ lives.”

The 34 finalists will experience a final round of review and classroom observations prior to the selection and announcement this spring of the ten award recipients. Golden Apple’s award selection committee is comprised of college and university professors, administrators and former Golden Apple Award recipients. Committee members utilize industry and research based professional standards to identify teachers who exemplify the best of the teaching profession. As part of the final selection process, the finalists will be observed in their classrooms and the selection committee will conduct interviews with the teachers’ colleagues, supervisors, students and parents.

Each Golden Apple Award recipient receives a tuition-free, spring quarter sabbatical to study at Northwestern University. Each recipient also receives a $5,000 cash award and becomes a Fellow of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators.

Information courtesy of Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65