Jennifer L. Sime, an alumna of the School of Education and Social Policy, has been named one of the 10 Golden Apple Award winners for 2006. Sime, who completed the NU-TEACH alternative certification program in 2002 and received a Master's of Science in Education degree in 2004, teaches third grade at Our Lady of the Gardens School at 13300 S. Langley Avenue in Chicago. She originally began teaching as a volunteer for two years through the Inner-City Teaching Corps, one of SESP's partners in the NU-TEACH program along with the Golden Apple Foundation.
The 2006 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes excellence in teaching in grades pre-kindergarten through third. A total of 850 teachers from Cook, Lake and DuPage counties were nominated for the award, which is presented by the Golden Apple Foundation.
Members of the awards selection committee, comprised of 90 Chicago-area educators, observe in each finalists' classroom and interview their principal and selected colleagues, parents and students.
One of the committee members who visited Simes's classroom "at a school in one of Chicago's poorest communities" made this comment about her teaching: "Children begin learning the moment the enter Jennifer Sime's classroom. They drop off books in a 'need a new book' box, along with their report, which Sime's reviews that day. There are no discipline problems in this classroom - the children are kind and respectful to each other. They write every day, and each day is filled with quiet moments of learning."
"I love working at OLG because the students already love coming to school, so I just have to keep the love of learning alive for them," says Sime. "Third grade is an amazing year to teach reading, because the students develop a love for stories with which they can connect. Characters come alive, and we are able to visit places in books that we may never see in real life."
"I try to expose as much of the world to my students as possible," she adds. "My favorite activity is our 'Rainforest Cafe,' turning our classroom into a rainforest as we learn about the plants, animals and people that live in that exciting environment and enjoying snacks that were all products of the rainforest."
Along with the other nine Golden Apple Award winners, Sime will receive a tuition-free fall-term sabbatical at Northwestern University, along with a personal computer from Apple, $3,000 and membership in the Golden Apple Academy.
The 10 winners will be honored at an award ceremony on May 13 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, which subsequently will be aired on WTTW/Channel 11.
Last Modified: 8/14/09