Lake Forest Music Teacher Wins Golden Apple

LAKE FOREST, IL — The first recipient of a 2017 Golden Apple is a Lake Forest music teacher.

Scott Baeseman, who teaches fourth through eighth grade music and conducts the choir at Lake Forest Country Day school was surprised Friday morning with a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Each day, Baeseman ends his music classes by encouraging his students to ‘go out and make a positive difference in the world,’ a sentiment he models through his teaching and leadership. He is known for getting to know his students as people and for his commitment to coaching every student to achieve greatness.

A professional composer, he is currently collaborating with a 7th grade student to write music inspired by the student’s poetry. His classroom environment models respect, trust and supportive interaction. His instruction emphasizes the interrelation of music and culture, using music as a tool for building understanding of the diversity in our world.

As the music department chair and the chair of the school’s diversity committee, Baeseman is a leader in the school community. He has also brought the conversation of acceptance and understanding to the forefront at Lake Forest Country Day where he is widely admired for his openness when discussing challenging issues, according to the school.

This year’s award recipients were selected from a pool of more than 600 nominations and represent teachers if fourth through eighth grade students throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Recipients were nominated by their students, community members/parents and colleagues who have directly engaged with them and benefited from their talent and passion.

The 2017 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Leadership recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony on May 20 at WTTW/Channel 11 Studios in Chicago. The event will be live streamed, and include live interviews with former students and guests of the award recipients. Following the event, WTTW will broadcast the awards in a one-hour television program.

Top photo: Scott Baeseman, March 17, 2017 (Courtesy Golden Apple)