CARTERVILLE, Ill. -- A Carterville school teacher was surprised with an award for her excellent teaching on Monday.
Representatives with the surprised Carterville Intermediate School 4th grade teacher Sabrina Gooden with the prestigious  in a gymnasium full of her students and school staff members.
Gooden was one of 10 recipients throughout Illinois to receive the award from a total of 570 nominations of 4th-8th grade teachers.
Sabrina Gooden
"These remarkable teachers have shown their dedication, creativity and impact on their students and schools. They have also contributed to their professional communities by sharing their best practices, collaborating with their peers and mentoring new teachers,� said Alan Mather, President of The Golden Apple Foundation. “They are not only exemplary teachers, but also influential leaders. The 2023 award recipients will join our mission to impact the lives of even more students by supporting the next generation of great teachers through our teacher preparation programs."
The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching honor outstanding teachers for having lasting, positive effects on students� lives and school communities.
Teacher recipients demonstrate � in their teaching and results � significant, positive impact on their students� growth and learning.
“These outstanding educators have demonstrated their commitment, passion and impact consistently with their students and in their communities,� said Alicia Winckler, CEO of The Golden Apple Foundation. “They are not only making a difference in teaching, but are also inspiring community leaders and lifelong learners. We are honored to recognize them and support them as they advance their learning and continue to evolve as educational influencers.�
Gooden will also receive a $5,000 cash award and a spring sabbatical provided by Northwestern University at no cost.
Award recipients also become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators. This is a community of educators who play an important role in preparing the next generation of teachers in the Golden Apple and programs, which are dedicated to addressing the teacher shortage in Illinois, according to Golden Apple.
The Golden Apple Foundation’s mission is to inspire, develop and support teacher and school leader excellence, especially in schools-of-need. Our leading-edge preparation delivers exceptional teachers who make an impact. We help students thrive in the classroom and in life. Since our beginning, we have recognized master educators annually; and, these master educators help prepare the next generation of teachers through both our Golden Apple Scholars (for undergraduates) and Golden Apple Accelerators (for career-changers) programs. Our vision is one in which every classroom has a great teacher and to realize this, we are committed to making a material difference in resolving the teacher shortage. Visit for more information.
