ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Golden Apple Foundation has released its list of nominations for 6th-12th grade teachers to be recognized with the prestigious Golden Apple Teacher Awards for 2026.
Parents, students, and community members submitted more than 1,550 nominations for 537 teachers in more than 50 Winnebago and Boone County Schools.
A reception to honor the nominees will be held on Thursday, November 13th, 2025, at Rockford University, 5050 E. State Street.
Nominated teachers will next submit self-reflective essays and letters of recommendation, from which a selection committee will choose 20 teachers to observe in classroom settings and through interviews, to narrow down the five finalists.
Those five will receive the Golden Apple Award at the Excellence in Education Banquet on April 24th, 2026, at the Tebala Event Center. Each Golden Apple Teacher will receive a $1,000 cash reward, a professional stipend, a tablet or laptop, and a Rockford University scholarship.
Auburn High School
- Weston Brabeck
- Christopher Galetsis
- Robert Hammer
- Jason Judd
- Kevin Knoll
- Elizabeth Krampota
- Jonathan Logemann
- Eileen Morrissey
- Brennan O’Connell
- Kyle Owen
- John Rauh
- Marcia Shields
- Bryson Wallace
- Ana Weickert
- Elizabeth Wood
- Barbour Language Acad.
- Zulema Abreu
- Lesly Carreno
- Angelica Cobos
- Ruben Escalante
- Cesar Estrada
- Jennifer Estrada
- Nicole Hackett
- Eric Alvarez Llimos
- Dennis Meacham
- Jose Ornelas
- Kelley Marie Roganowicz
Belvidere Central Middle
- Johana Avila
- Rachel Condon
- Katherine Corken
- Luisa Cruz
- Carol Deutsch
- Darin Dunphy
- Pedro Garcia Lopez
- Colleen Griffith
- Ashley Hernandez
- Phil Keithley
- Tricia Proffitt
- Sinclair Roechner
- Angela Schadle
- Natalie Seper
- Rachael Walters Sarah Werhane
- Sara Wolf
Belvidere High School
- Myah Carroll
- Jason Costabile
- Annie Curran
- John Deery
- Sean Donnelly
- Tyler Erwin
- Jonathan Hannel
- Audrey McAleer Bryan Neal
- Greg Reilly
- Annalisa Schindler Kirshna Seuring
- Schuyler Strate
- Jordan Thomas
- Matthew Zabel
Belvidere North High School
- Corinne Boatman
- Laura Geddes
- Ron Hamilton
- Amy Klein
- Dr. Teresa Kruger
- Quinn Lawyer
- Paola Rodriguez
- Corynne Wesselhoff
- Andrea Woldman
Belvidere South Middle
- Olivia Acosta
- Katie Appelhans
- Rachel Balk
- Allison Betke
- Leyre Bilbao Luri
- Anna Billesbach
- Carol Boreen
- Andrea Bould
- Nicole Bradford
- Kim Brahmstedt
- Erin Brien
- Nicole Brinkman
- Samantha Canfield
- Julia Hernandez Carrasco Linda Colson
- Nicole Difford
- Michelle Dodeler
- Jody Farris
- Jeremy Frew
- Courtney Furlong
- Natasha Gadomski
- David Gamboa
- Lexie Gruber
- Lauren Hart
- Rachel Hockemeyer
- Julie Johnson
- LaRonda Johnson
- Christina Kalk
- Alexandra Karmis
- Adam Lee
- Briana Morin
- Sheila Morrall
- Michelle Olsen
- Aaron Pearson
- Noelia Pecino Marin
- Rebecca Perry *
- Jazmin Rodriguez Jessica Romine
- Meaghan Rose
- Luz Saenz- Sejas
- Marni Sheil
- Brooke Stark
- Sarah Streed
- Julie Tapia
- Gayle Turmo
- Blanca Urbieta
- Nelly Villalpando
- Rebecca Wesselhoff
Blackhawk Elementary
- Kathy Harms
- Maggie Packett
Boylan Catholic High School
- Louise Basile
- Michael Grady
- Lindsay Mertes
- Missy Minardi
- Elizabeth Okite
- Lynn Rafferty
- 2025-202 6 Golden Apple Award Nominees
- Boylan Catholic HS (cont’d.)
- Tricia Rozanski
Christian Life School s
- Darrell Dunlap
- Jennifer Loyola
- Levi Myers
- Sonny Savitski
- Cornerstone Baptist Acad.
- Cindy Sarver Volkert
Durand Elementary
Durand High School
- Emily Backeberg
- Adam Pusateri
- Megan Riordan
Durand Junior High
- Dermot Dolan
- Stephany Hiebel
East High School
- Chad Anderson
- Amy Caulk
- Jacqueline Hennelly
- Janelle Huston
- Amy Kepner
- Hannah McCullough
- Victoria Nguyen
- Pamela Ruenger
- Jessica Tolmie
Eisenhower Middle
- Jenna Alvarez Brianne Ap antenco
- Maureen Barndt
- Jessica Briggs
- Ronnie Brown
- Christina Dover
- Thomas Fraley
- Amy Gonzalez
- Patricia Guerra Robyn Heitman
- Scott Hoel
- Gavin Hughes
- Asiya Laskonis
- Kristin Lassandro
- Mark Mase
- Itasha Montgomery
- Vita Perone
- Keara Sabin
- Frank Tousey
- Everest Satellite HS
- James Hotchkiss
Flinn Middle School
- Paige Atkins
- Samar Al Zoubi
- Shana Alex
- Amanda Andrus
- Nolan Beard
- Sonia Belmontes
- Jacob Bergeron
- Allison Callaway
- Jasmin Chavez- Espinoza
- Jeffery Emmole
- Allison Frieders
- Kevin Goad
- James Goodman
- Bailey Hanton
- Hussien Hussien
- Eric Johnson
- Christina Koblosh
- Kathryn Kotz
- Jennifer Meinke
- Ana Mota Barcenas
- Brooke Muller
- Tara Olson
- Tania Paterick -Sterud
- Kelli Purvis
- Jessica Roman
- Dale Strohfus
- Tracy Tartaglia
- Joanna Tekampe
- William Wengelewski
- Stacy Wilhite
Galapagos Charter School
- Tationa Elliott
- Chase Fischer
- Jennifer Jerrick
- Mallory Johnson
- Stephanie Starrett
Guilford High School
- Bethany Austin
- Amy Avery
- Michael Baer
- Deanna Ballard
- Kelsey Blomberg
- Hannah Bowers
- Jeffrey B rabasz
- Anthony Capriotti
- Mich eal Cermak
- Craig Corcoran
- Kelly Duncan
- Todd Eislee
- Rick Elston
- Noah Erickson
- Clark Fabert -Church
- Justin Garnhart
- Nathan Green
- Tes Hastings
- Teodora J ohnson
- Melissa Khattab
- Nathan Kirschmann
- Courtney Kubacki
- Kelsey Mokersky
- Stephen Mrizek
- Ruth O’Donnell
- Dannielle Parrotte
- Simon Reinhardt
- Jennifer Renfro
- Emilio Rodriguez
- Lynette Schultz
- Bailey Sullivan
- Jeremiah Tews
- Bryce Thomas
- Melissa Wedwick
- Marcy Wiebe
Harlem High School
- Rachel Dreier
- 2025-202 6 Golden Apple Award Nominees
Harlem High School ( cont’d.)
- Stephanie Farris
- Kara Heyboer
- Kimberly Kozel
- Kelly Nicholls
- Chris topher Noble
- Michelle Nuckles
- Erin Watson
Harlem Middle School
- Kaitlyn Adams
- Beth Bartsche r
- Judith Becerra
- Amanda Bennett Nichole Carlson
- Renaldo Cooper
- Amanda Gazinski
- Michaelle Jaeger
- Francisco Lara
- Valerie Mallon
- Allison Mangseth
- Nicole McCloy
- Misty Murphy
- Lynnette Nyren
- Shawna Sterling
- Cheryl Zarn
- Flori Zeqiri
Holy Family Catholic School
- Danielle Buelow
- Cindy Hamilton
- Brooke Harp
- Andrea Heimer
- Kathy Mannino
- John Sabaka
- Karen Singer
- Linaya Wright
- Hononegah Community HS
- Kelly Beard
- Tanya Beaulieu
- Dan Bohn
- Sharon Bowman
- Jason Brunke
- Jean Chambers *
- Brad Christoff Mary Christoff
- Amy Dalke
- Elizabeth Eiss
- William Elliot
- Brett Erxleben
- Amanda Frautschy
- Carolyn Frieden
- Jason Glodowski
- Kate Hansen
- Alex Hartz *
- Amanda Harvey
- Susan Hays
- Bryan Jenkins
- Brend an Kelly
- Alex Krahl
- Jeremiah Kramper
- Kaylee Libby
- Daniel Marsh
- Josh Martin
- Matthew Mazur
- Amanda McCoy
- Rachel Norberg
- Heather Plourde
- Lisa Pryor
- James Sabathne
- Cheryl Schaffner
- Allison Schmidt
- Thomas Searle
- Matt Simpson
- Adam Smith
- Angela Stone
- Arra Van Galder
- Erin Weldon
- Kelsey Zammuto
- Brian Zimmerman
- IBC at Conklin
- Amy Conklin
- Connie Shoemaker
- Jimena Sota
Jefferson High School
- Jacob Burke
- Carol Burow
- Efrain Carlos
- Nicole Frazer Joseph Free
- Lynn Graczyk *
- Matthew Hotopp
- Audra Humy
- Cara Wolfe *
- Brianna White
Keith Country Day School
- Renee Allen
- Kristin Burns
- David Bye
- Molly Carter
- Cory Godin
- Keith Hatfield
- Ron Lee
- Sherrilyn Martin
- Nick Newcomer
- Robert Nunez
- Erin Philpott
- Thomas Reynolds
- James Schoepski *
- Linda Smith
- Morgan Swenson
Kennedy Middle School
- Dr. Kye Gaffy Holly Hilden
- Melissa Kahly
- Renee Perone
- Elizabeth Primrose
Lincoln Middle School
- Iris Acosta
- Billy Bradshaw
- Muloko Delphin
- Kelly Ellingson
- Cecilia Hartsock
- Jaime Hendrickson
- Nicholas Hill
- Natalie Hinz
- Kerry Huffman
- Christian Jacobson
- William McLaughlin
- Melanie Moore
- Jessica Parker
- Antonio Ramirez III
- 2025-202 6 Golden Apple Award Nominees
- Lincoln MS (cont’d.)
- Jill Renteria
- Amanda Richardson
- Tara Sablich
- Veronica Seehawer
- Sand ra Swenson
- Alicia Valdivia
- Maria Montessori at Marsh
- Julie Gibbs
- Sara Hanson Young
- Krist en Keller
- Molly Priest *
- Hilarie Scotvold
- Stacey Szczepaniak
North Boone High School
- Nick Augustine
- Bailie Dill
- Beth Doetch
- Melissa Ford
- Jason Geiger
- Cindy Kastning Nathan Negron
- Kathleen Podraza
- Jeffery Self
- Christopher Shank
- Sean Smart
- Kendra Stachowiak
- Diana Vlase
- Robert Wessel
North Boone Middle School
- Kassandra Chambers
- Katharine Doering
- Randal Greenfield
- Katelyn Katz
- Taylor Murfin
- Jodie Rogers
- Matt Stacionis
- Karise Tinberg
- Jensen Tyler
- Marcy Wilson
- Jillian Zelek
- North Boone Upper Elem.
- Kelly Mroz -Swanson
- Alesia Welte George
- Stefani Zimmerman
Pecatonica High School
- Michelle Johnson
- Jennifer Krantz
- Neal Shippy
Pecatonica Middle School
- Tim Bukoski
- Jennifer Dusing
- Donna Harvey
- Jessica Houghton
- Brianna Kimes
- Sabrina Massa
- Taylor Merrick
- Laura Van Natta
- Marissa Viel
- Ericka Yancey
- QUAD
- Carl Burns
Rockford Environmental Science Academy (RESA)
- Christina Barte
- James Brooks
- Heidi Butz Sarah Byrnes
- Felicia Davis
- Niko Derain
- Catherine Finn
- Roxana Flores
- Andres Holm
- Brooke Lake
- Martin Lowenthal
- Jessica Pequeno Mendoza
- Laurie Nelson
- Tracy Norgart
- Nancy Reed
- Jochen Schuld
- Kymberley Shimmins
- Nicole Vargas
- Rockford Christian HS
Liz Day
- Jennifer Downey
- Mike Manke
- Randy Moore
- Sophia Walsh
- Rockford Christian MS
- Sally Bradley
- Amanda Carlson
- Abigail Durand
- Alicia Heinzeroth
- Don Hoff
- Jake Reese
- Katie Volk
- Rockford Lutheran
- Stephanie Gustafson
- Bruce Kramer
- Jason Pedersen
- Elizabeth Temple
Roosevelt Community Education Center
- Brian Hierstein
- Gregory Johnson
- Sarah Werckle
- Samantha Wright
- Jennifer Zimmerman
Roscoe Middle School
- Colleen Alms
- Steve Bergler
- Diana Boelte
- Drake Bolin
- Lyn Collins
- Sarah Cook
- Adam Curran
- Mychael Drews
- Gianna Esposito
- Dana Freedlund
- Louis Gugliuzza
- Christine Kaufman
- Amy Kuo
- Tyler Lovgren
- Chad McLarty
- 2025-202 6 Golden Apple Award Nominees
- Roscoe MS (cont’d.)
Melissa Middleton
- Cindy Myroth
- Kim Salem
- Chris Walsh
Shirland School
- Emily Buhck
- Rebecca Clinite
- Ciara Fis cher-James
- Dawn Heavilin
- Jake James
- Hannah Pals
- Mark Snyder
- Dr. Lee Woods
South Beloit High School
- Kala Niedermeier
- Michael Ostrowski
- Maggie Packett
- Matt Stucky
South Beloit Junior High
- Carmen Fluker
- Jonathon Love
- Samantha Redieske
- Eduardo Sanchez
St. Bridget Catholic School
Stephen Mack Middle
- Jenna Arends
- Leah Carter
- Carol Flohr
- Dian na Kelly
- Luke McMillan
- Ashley Mumma
- Chad Szarszyski
- Cori Taylor
- Theresa Taylor
- Laura Zimmerman
Thurgood Marshall Middle
- Michele Albers tett Julia Anderson
- Aubrey Barnett
- Susan Brauns
- George Espino
- Kenneth Fosse
- Brian Hansas
- Erin Harner
- Krista Heavin
- Matthew Kurt z
- Rita Laskonis
- Jillian Myers
- Carrie Rollins
- Chelsea Spinello Johnson
- Sara Topham
- Stacy Wallace
West Middle School
- Catherine Baxter
- Michael Hollingsworth
- Jamie Kovatch
- Catherine McFadden
- Teresa Olson
- Justin Saichek
Willowbrook Middle School
- Marcie Ball
- Sara Betti
- Brad Brown
- Kira Crippen
- Paige DeMoss
- Hayley Gotzsche
- Kelli Houghton *
- Danielle Misiaszek
- Krista Silecchia
- Anna Tapia
- Jessica Vallette
- Kristin Waltner
- Sigrid Wis
Winnebago High School
- Roger Anderson
- Janet Erb
- Jennifer Fuller
- Curtis Rummel
Winnebago Middle School
- Abigail Barker
- Michael Belden
- Joe Erb
- Kendra Getschel
- Jeremy Graham
- Heather McCoy
- Molly Powers
- Kim Smith
- Brittany Wagner
* Teacher Academy
schools or Retired
- Joe Avery
- Matthew Brinkmeier
- Ava Canales
- Scott Clark
- Andrea Cox
- Heather Dobnick
- Jordan Doering
- Jessica Glasco
- Jason Grey
- Ms. Heiber
- Sarah Ingham
- Raeann Jurgens
- Kelli Kiger
- Arthur Kimball
- Lilian Kimengele
- Breanna Koning
- Danella Kunes
- Penny Lee – R
- Michael Lawyer – R
- Ben Maxy
- Bryan McDonald
- Jason Nash
- Ms. Nordgren
- Mrs. Om
- Jim Paddock (now in Dakota)
- Lloyd Roberts
- Marc Ruiz
- Bridget Sexton
- Aly Shillingburg
- Mr. Ulmas
- Jordan Wright