Inner-City Teaching Corps Member Is Among 2011 Golden Apple Award Winners
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Ronald Hale from Avalon Chicago International Charter School Receives Award
CHICAGO – The Alain Locke Initiative, a national education nonprofit, today announced a member of its Inner-City Teaching Corps (ICTC) program is a recipient of the 2011 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. The ten award winners, all 4th–8th grade teachers, were selected from a pool of 185 applicants and more than 600 nominees. Ronald Hale from Avalon Chicago International Charter School learned of the award duringma surprise visit from Golden Apple and his family at his school on Monday morning. Northwestern University’s Michelle Jenkins presented him with the honor.
“Ron exemplifies excellence not only in his teaching but also in the standards he sets for his students. His passion encourages them to take risks, discover their gifts, and strive to be the best,” said Cynthia Thomas, Director of Teacher Operations of The Alain Locke Initiative. Inner-City Teaching Corps provides urban classrooms in Chicago with high-impact leaders by recruiting top recent graduates and accomplished career changers into urban education. Committing to teach in Chicago’s urban schools for two years, corps members obtain their certification and receive ongoing, personalized coaching and support. They serve in CPS District, Charter, and Archdiocesan Big Shoulders Schools.
“We are fortunate to be able to honor excellence in teachers, and provide these teachers with opportunities to leverage their ideas and experiences to benefit the teaching profession,” said
Dominic Belmonte, president and CEO of Golden Apple. “The Golden Apple Awards believes that excellent teaching transcends place and circumstance, and adapts to the needs of
students where those students are found, and brings them closer to becoming productive citizens and healthy people.”
In collaboration with Northwestern University’s nationally ranked School of Education and Social Policy, ICTC develops beginning teachers through a rigorous academic curriculum, expert coaching, and opportunities for collaboration with other educators to develop the skills needed to be leaders within their schools.
About The Alain Locke Initiative
The Alain Locke Initiative is a nonprofit education organization focused on closing the achievement gap by energizing urban schools with high-impact leaders. It was founded in 1991 (then named Inner-City Teaching Corps) by former inner-city teacher and gang narcotics police officer, Pat Ryan Jr., Co-Founder and CEO of INCISENT Technologies, ranked the #4 fastest growing software company in the U.S. in the 2008 INC 500 rankings.
The Alain Locke Initiative is anchored by three key programs: Alain Locke Charter School, which holds the record for #1 test score gains in the history of Illinois ISAT test and was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as 1 of 7 schools nationally best "Closing the Achievement Gap"; Inner-City Teaching Corps, a teacher development program for top recent college graduates and accomplished career changers who will become future urban education leaders; and Accelerate, which seeks to solve the issue of underperforming urban charter schools by developing an elite corps of Ryan Fellows through a one year fellowship in achievement accelerating leadership for the highest potential school leaders.
About Golden Apple
Celebrating its 26th anniversary, Golden Apple began with founders Mike and Pat Koldyke and a shared inspiration — to offer outstanding schoolteachers a level of recognition and engagement in the larger work of education reform. Golden Apple’s successful track record of integrated, innovative programs and resources enhance the quality, resiliency, and creativity of classroom teachers and improve teaching and learning throughout Illinois. Qualified, passionate educators — including Golden Apple Award recipients and finalists, lead a small staff of dedicated employees with functional and program expertise. A connected and committed board of directors oversees Golden Apple’s strategic direction. Together with a larger community of expert educators, this nonprofit organization works to ensure that all Illinois children have the excellent teachers they deserve.
Visit www.goldenappleillinois.org for more information.
