Golden Apple Archives - NIU College of Education

M.S.Ed. alumna Dana Freedlund named finalist for Rockford-area Golden Apple

February 2, 2026 Mark McGowan Alumni, CI, enewsletter

Many teachers talk of playing school in their childhood basements as kids. Dana Freedlund did that, too. A chalkboard. A magnetic board. Desks. Worksheets that she handed out to her friends. She had it all. That’s not what drove her to a

Shine on! Two alumnae named finalists for Chicago-area Golden Apple awards

March 21, 2025 Mark McGowan Alumni, CI, enewsletter, LEPF

One dreamed of teaching art but eventually decided that she would not pursue that goal – until, well, she did. The other wanted to work as a print journalist, and even did so for a while, but ultimately realized that she needed

Sweet! COE alumna Lisa Robinson wins Rockford-area 2025 Golden Apple award

February 17, 2025 Mark McGowan Alumni, CI, enewsletter, SEED

Lisa Robinson, kindergarten teacher at Rolling Green Elementary School, has been a Golden Apple finalist before. And now Robinson, who earned a B.S.Ed. in Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing in 2004, is a winner. “Being recognized as a Top 20

Alumna Erin Anderson finds her place, Golden Apple recognition as a principal

February 17, 2025 Mark McGowan Alumni, CI, enewsletter

Erin Anderson had witnessed a Golden Apple surprise before. March 16, 2023. An entourage of well-wishers had come to Harlem School District 122’s Donald C. Parker Early Education Center, where Anderson serves as principal. They huddled near her office, waiting to congratulate

COE alumna Molly Kettelhut receives Rockford-area 2024 Golden Apple award

February 26, 2024 Mark McGowan CI, enewsletter, SEED

Molly Kettelhut spent her childhood dreaming of one thing. “I wanted to teach for my whole life. I went through a short period where I wanted to do something else, but then I quickly realized – like I always had known –

Elementary Education alumni selected as Chicago-area Golden Apple finalists

April 19, 2023 Mark McGowan Alumni, CI, enewsletter

Erin Odle has always loved working with children. Piotr Wojciaczyk drew inspiration from a high school music teacher. Dominique Yackley discovered her ambition from within after she left high school as a sophomore. Connecting the three NIU College of Education alumni, all

COE alumna Miranda Thompson wins Rockford-area 2023 Golden Apple award

March 8, 2023 Mark McGowan CI, enewsletter, LEPF, SEED

Miranda Thompson is a Golden Apple winner. Thompson, who earned her B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education in 2006, was among six winners named March 9 during surprise ceremonies in their Rockford-area classrooms. She also was among eight finalists with NIU College of Education

Jason Klein presents during All-College on advancing partnerships, programs

January 19, 2023 Mark McGowan enewsletter, Partnerships

Partnerships: We develop reciprocal relationships with educational institutions, community organizations, agencies and businesses. We build learning solutions to address problems of practice in our region and beyond. Innovative Action: Develop or customize curricula, programs or practices to improve access, address workforce and

CI alumna Ashley VanSickle humbled, validated, motivated by Golden Apple

March 10, 2022 Mark McGowan Alumni, CI, enewsletter

Ashley VanSickle’s excellence as a teacher is without question. VanSickle, a 2013 alumna of the NIU Department of Curriculum and Instruction alumna, received a 2017 Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award from the Illinois Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Now, she’s a 2022