WILL Press Room
Honoring Central Illinois Teachers
Monday, June 09, 2008
WILL-TV airs video profiles of 10 outstanding central Illinois teachers.
9 pm Thursday,
June 26
The broadcast of the Golden Apple Awards 2008 ceremony and teacher profiles is an extension of WILL’s efforts to develop the intellectual, emotional and social potential of children. “Our broadcast is designed to capture the special qualities of these skilled and dedicated teachers, reward their achievements, and inspire all those who work to nurture and educate children in central Illinois,” said Mark Leonard, WILL’s general manager.
Central Illinois winners are: Don Jolly, 6th grade, Our Saviour School, Jacksonville; Shameem Rakha, 6th-8th grade reading, Franklin Middle School, Champaign; Hillary Sawyer, 5th grade, Booker T. Washington, Champaign; Elaine Harmon, kindergarten, Thomas Paine Elementary, Urbana; Sheila Stephens, high school science, Illinois School for the Deaf, Jacksonville; Suzanne McDowell, high school cooperative education, Bloomington Area Vocational Center; Nancy Powell, high school math, Bloomington High School; David Hirst, high school Spanish, Normal West High School; Roberta Maubach, 3rd grade, Thomas Metcalf Lab School, Normal; and Tim McCollum, 8th grade, Charleston Middle School.
Golden Apple Central Illinois (GACI) is a new program of the Golden Apple Foundation, an organization that has been celebrating and teaching educators in the Chicago area since 1985. Golden Apple’s principle focus is that all children deserve excellent teachers.
Golden Apple Central Illinois Award-winning teachers receive a paid semester sabbatical at the University of Illinois, a laptop computer, a cash award of $3,000, and the opportunity through the GACI Academy of Educators to create educational programs that have a positive impact on students.