Transforming Teachers and Teaching
OUR MISSION At Golden Apple, our mission is to inspire, develop and support teacher excellence in Illinois, especially in schools of need. Because the critical contributor to student achievement is the quality of the teacher in the classroom, Golden Apple provides exceptional teacher preparation for teachers at all stages of their careers. Through our innovative programs offering method, resource and mentorship, we work to transform teachers and teaching, enriching both student and teacher lives. 1 Golden Apple
Better Teachers = Better Students Our goal is simple - prepare great teachers to excel in classrooms where they are needed most Improving student performance in schools of need begins with preparing and mentoring teachers to handle the classroom challenges in difficult school settings. Prepare the next generation of great teachers and strengthen the ability of veteran teachers For nearly 30 years, Golden Apple s proven model has advanced teacher quality. Our programs include: Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program graduates exceptional teachers who commit to teach in a school of need for 5 years Golden Apple Inquiry Science Institute - increases student achievement by providing hands-on, professional development in science instruction to experienced teachers Golden Apple Academy of Educators recipients of the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching become Fellows in the Academy of Educators and provide mentoring and advanced teacher method to Golden Apple Scholars throughout their undergraduate and early teaching years and professional development to veteran teachers The biggest single factor in a student s success is a good teacher. Not only does Golden Apple recognize excellence in teaching, it raises the bar in education and helps teachers learn from each other about how to be more effective in preparing students for 21st century jobs. This is an organization making a difference in the future of our children. - Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois Golden Apple 2
Transforming Teachers and Teaching Excellent teachers produce successful students Golden Apple prepared teachers move a higher percentage of students to meeting/ exceeding standards on standardized tests than other CPS teachers. IMPACT A teacher s commitment to teaching affects student performance More than 67% sept - june sept sept -- june - june sept - june of math students in Scholar classrooms made at least a year s worth of progress in math 2x=16 82% of Golden Apple Scholars teach 5+ years in schools of need 44% of new teachers leave their initial school within two years 2x=16 3 Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois
3 Strategies for Success 1 Prepare Future Teachers with a proven pathway for success through the Golden Apple Scholars program 2 Invest in Veteran Teachers by providing results-proven, professional development programs dedicated to student performance improvement 3 Recognize and Leverage Great Teachers by honoring 10 outstanding Illinois educators annually and creating a dedicated community of mentors to share transformative teaching practices to prospective and veteran teachers Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois 4
STRATEGY METHOD 1 PREPARE FUTURE TEACHERS Scholars The Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program identifies motivated future educators and builds extraordinary teachers prepared to serve in high-need schools. Scholars engage for nine years with Golden Apple, benefiting from ongoing mentoring from experienced Golden Apple Fellows throughout their undergraduate and early teaching years. Your organization does an outstanding job in providing us with high quality professionals. I wish all my teachers would be Golden Apple Scholars! - Principal Comment, 2011 Survey From its beginning in 1989 with 15 Scholars and private funding, the Scholars program today remains the only one of its kind in the nation Over 1,400 participants currently or soon to be teaching in Illinois most challenging school settings 5 Golden Apple
Hundreds of high school graduates who are motivated future teachers enter the Golden Apple Scholars program each year 83% 600K of Scholars graduate from college each year students in Illinois have been taught by Golden Apple Scholars According to a 2011 Scholar survey 83% of teaching Scholars hold at least one school-based leadership role compared to 32% of all CPS teachers Through a partnership with the Illinois Math and Science Academy, Golden Apple recruits and develops an annual cohort of Scholars with specialized math and science teaching expertise. 2x=16 GOLDEN APPLE SCHOLARS OF ILLINOIS PROGRAM Golden Apple strengthens collegiate teacher preparation with supplemental four-week, on-campus Summer Institutes and on-going professional development Golden Apple 6
STRATEGY 2 INVEST IN EXISTING TEACHERS Inquiry Science Institute A good teacher never stops learning The Golden Apple Inquiry Science Institute (ISI) works with existing CPS elementary teachers to engage their students in science by providing them with ongoing, in-school coaching, professional work sessions and team-building activities. As the result of a two-year partnership with selected Chicago Public Schools, ISI has proven to empirically raise test results. EXAMPLE OF IMPACT Since 1989, ISI has provided professional development for over 5,000 Chicago-area teachers in science instruction My entire approach to teaching has changed as a result of last summer s program. Now I am a facilitator of learning where I provide opportunities for students to practice science. This year will go down in my history as being the first where I helped to make a significant dent in the achievement gap. - Christina Frum, Teacher and iteam Leader 89% increase for Christina s 2011 4th grade Science ISAT scores compared to 2010 64% now meet or exceed science standards 7 Golden Apple
STRATEGY 3 RECOGNIZE AND LEVERAGE GREAT TEACHERS Academy of Educators 280 Illinois teachers have been named Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching recipients, a prestigious award bestowed annually since 1985. Envisioned by Martin and Patricia Koldyke, the Golden Apple Awards offer outstanding teachers a level of recognition analogous to that experienced by actors at the Academy Awards. Awards recipients become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, which leverages the knowledge of Golden Apple recipients as mentors to new and existing teachers. Because of our proven success, Golden Apple Fellows are invited to participate in major education reform efforts in Illinois and nationally. Golden Apple Fellows... Mentor Golden Apple Scholars Lead science instruction at ISI MENTOR 1,400 new teachers Contribute to major education reform efforts in Illinois and nationally Host annual Teachers for Tomorrow Conference Golden Apple 8
Track Record of Growth 1989 2013 15 Scholars $60k of private funding 135 Scholars annually $4.9 million in state funding $ 1989 2013 Private donations top $1 million annually 51% Golden Apple is now preparing to become the principal provider of teacher talent to targeted south Through side Chicago our Public partnership Schools with CPS, Golden Apple is OUR GOAL now principal purveyor of 250 teachers to targeted South side schools Scholars annually named for Illinois schools 9 Golden Apple
An investment in Golden Apple is an investment in the future of Illinois students. Help us break the cycle of inadequate education limiting individual opportunity. TOP REASONS TO SUPPORT GOLDEN APPLE We know workers 18 and older with less than a high school diploma earn 92% of every donation is spent directly on programming 83% graduation rate from our Scholars Prorgam 88% of Scholars remain in teaching 5+ years Students of our Scholars have a demonstrated record of performance improvement 67% of what high school graduates earn and 37% of what college graduates bring home A high-performing teacher can boost lifetime earnings for their class of 20 students by $400K Our work focuses on teachers, the most critical indicator of student success. Golden Apple 10
The quality of a teacher in the classroom is the single most critical contributor to student performance. With your help, Golden Apple will continue to transform teachers and teaching in Illinois, making a positive impact in the highest-need schools. Ways to get involved in our mission... Contact us to receive regular Golden Apple news and special announcements by email Encourage a motivated high school student with teaching ambitions to explore our Golden Apple Scholars program Nominate an outstanding teacher for the Golden Apple Award Tell your state legislator you support increased Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program funding 8 South Michigan Avenue Suite 700 Chicago, IL 60603-3463 phone / 312.407.0006 fax / 312.407.0344 email / info@goldenapple.org online / www.goldenapple.org Scan here for more information on Golden Apple t r a n s f o r m i n g t e a c h e r s a n d t e a c h i n g
Transforming Teachers and Teaching