Three graduates of DePaul University’s School of Education have won prestigious Golden Apple awards and will be honored at a Sept. 6 award ceremony.
Monica Gil and Samina Khan won Golden Apple Awards, and Virginia Kogen won a Teachers of Distinction Award, all from the Golden Apple Foundation, which is dedicated to recognizing and developing outstanding teachers, especially for schools of need. Each of the 10 Golden Apple award winners receive a tuition-free spring-term sabbatical at Northwestern University, a personal computer from IBM, $3,000, and membership in the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, which has inducted 230 expert teachers who work together to ensure that all children have the excellent teachers they deserve.
Gil, a seventh-grade language arts and social studies teacher at Gray Elementary School in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood, was nominated by a parent of a current student who was impressed that Gil had done such a good job of preparing an older son for success in high school. “Having high expectations is my strategy,” said Gil, of Chicago’s Belmont Cragin neighborhood. Even when students are doing well, she always asks for more. Gil, who earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in bilingual/bicultural education from DePaul, plans to take a course in educational leadership during her sabbatical.
Khan was raised in Nigeria where she obtained an undergraduate degree in microbiology. She received a master’s degree in education from DePaul and is the sole science teacher at the Michele Clark Academic Preparatory Magnet High School in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Since joining the faculty in 2001 through the Chicago Public School system’s Global Educators Outreach program, the percentage of students passing the Illinois Standards Achievement Test in Science rose from about 27 percent to nearly 90 percent in 2007, Khan said. She makes herself available to help students during lunch and other free times. “Sometimes it takes just 20 minutes. I may be the only adult some of these children see all day,” said Khan, who lives in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. Khan plans to add the laptop computer she won to the four computers in her classroom now. “Teaching is not a profession; it is a passion for me.”
A total of 850 teachers from Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and Will counties were nominated for the award, which was first presented in 1986. Thirty-one finalists were named in March, from which 10 were chosen for the award a selection committee composed of distinguished Chicago-area educators. Two selection committee members observed each of the 31 finalists in their classroom and interviewed their principals and selected colleagues, parents and students. At least nine other DePaul graduates have won the award since 1990.
Kogen earned a bachelor’s degree in education from DePaul and teaches English to seventh- and eighth-graders at Madero School in Chicago’s South Lawndale neighborhood. She is currently completing a master’s degree for a principal certificate at Concordia University. “As much as I love being in the classroom, I am interested in a leadership position. There are a lot of inequities in the system that I would like to address,” said Kogen, of Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood. She attributes her success to high expectations, developing close relationships with parents and not allowing misbehavior of any kind in class, including wearing gang symbols. “The kids completely understand because it is structured and routine. No one wants to stand out; they fall into place and learn that they have to do the best possible work that they can,” she said.
Teachers of Distinction are recognized for their distinguished contributions to teaching and are invited to participate in Golden Apple programs.
The three will be honored at an award ceremony on Sept. 6 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, which subsequently will be aired as a one-hour, prime-time special on WTTW/Channel 11.
DePaul has the second-largest school of education in the Chicago area, offering degree programs in early childhood education; elementary and secondary education and physical education; special education; bilingual/bicultural education; curriculum studies; educational leadership; human services and counseling; and language, literacy and specialized instruction.
