SESP honored the 2006 winners of the Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence at a reception in Annenberg Hall on October 26, and the award winners shared advice about teaching with SESP students. During fall quarter the Golden Apple winners are studying at Northwestern.Each year after an extensive selection process, the Golden Apple Foundation selects 10 individuals to honor as outstanding teachers, and award winners participate in a tuition-free sabbatical at Northwestern University. As a group the award winners are involved in a seminar directed by teaching associate Penny Lundquist. "Northwestern is providing great teachers an opportunity to be even better," noted Lundquist.
SESP alumnus Jennifer Sime (MSEd03), a third-grade teacher at Our Lady of the Garden School in Chicago, is one of the 10 Golden Apple Award winners, selected from more than 850 nominees in pre-kindergarten through grade 3.
Sime, who completed the NU-TEACH alternative certification program in 2002 and received a Master's of Science in Education degree in 2004, originally began teaching as a volunteer through the Inner-City Teaching Corps, one of SESP's partners in the NU-TEACH program along with the Golden Apple Foundation.
The other 2006 Golden Apple winners are Kristie A. Charles, third-grade teacher at Hunting Ridge Elementary School in Palatine; Kristin Ziemke Fastabend, kindergarten teacher at Burley Elementary School in Chicago; Dianne Hamelly, first- and second-grade teacher at Fremont Elementary School in Mundelein; Erica Hodges-Hilgart, first-grade teacher at Piccolo Elementary School in Chicago; Sandy L. Lucas, fine arts teacher for grades PreK to 6 at Murphy Elementary School in Chicago; Sandra L. Noel, physical education teacher for grades K to 5 at Hatch Elementary School in Oak Park; Ziomara D. Perez, pre-kindergarten teacher at Jahn Elementary School in Chicago; Kevan H. Truman, third-grade teacher at Central Elementary School in Wilmette; and Karen M. Wylie, kindergarten teacher at Elizabeth Meyer School in Skokie.
Called upon to share "words of wisdom" with prospective teachers in the Master of Science in Education Program, the award winners made these comments about teaching:
Jennifer Sime:
"Be present to the kids. … Be ready to adjust."
Karen Wylie:
"Learning occurs with joy. … The brain opens up when a person is happy, … so you want to remember that learning should be joyful."
Kristin Ziemke Fastabend:
"You need to have high expectations - for yourself and the students."
Kristie Charles:
"Make as many connections as you can - with students, their families, your peers, with people at Northwestern."
Ziomara Perez:
"One of the main ways you can reach students is by reaching out to families. … Keep yourself motivated and in touch with the world."
Erica Hodges-Hilgart:
"The main thing is to see the whole child for who they are and what they really need, love and respect them, and just have fun."
Sandy Lucas:
"I'm so lucky because I have a passion for the arts and get to give that to the children. … You have to love what you do."
Kevan Truman:
"As teachers you need to know things, to experience things. You need to bring in a wealth of knowledge and experience, … so get out there and do things - read, travel … Always be a lifelong learner."
Photo Caption:
Golden Apple Award winner and SESP alumnus Jennifer Sime at SESP's Golden Apple reception with Dean Penelope Peterson.
Last Modified: 8/14/09