Principal At Des Plaines School Named Golden Apple Finalist

DES PLAINES, IL — As it does annually, the Golden Apple Foundation announced last week its finalists for excellence in teaching awards. Among the finalists is Lisa Bucciarelli-Carlos, who is the principal at Plainfield Elementary School in Des Plaines, a position she's held since 2018.

According to Golden Apple, Bucciarelli-Carlos has "overseen the implementation of Standards-Based Grading and new instructional methodologies, supported by the professional development she’s facilitated for teachers. She has also played a crucial role in overseeing the English Learner (EL) and Bilingual programming, ensuring a comprehensive approach that includes curriculum, screening and placement, professional development, newcomer acclimation, and family and community engagement."

In all, 30 pre-K to third-grade teachers were named finalists. The selected 2024 Golden Apple Award recipients will be announced in the spring.

"These finalists have shown outstanding commitment and made a positive impact on students' growth and learning, significantly contributing to their academic and personal development," said Alan Mather, president of Golden Apple. "We are proud to honor these educators, acknowledging their crucial role in shaping the future of education and inspiring the next generation."

The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching honor outstanding teachers for "having lasting, positive effects on students’ lives and school communities," according to the nonprofit. Teacher finalists demonstrate — in their teaching and results — "significant, positive impact on their students’ growth and learning."

According to Golden Apple, Northwestern University provides a spring sabbatical to the award recipients at no cost. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 cash reward. They will also become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, which is a community of educators who play an important role in preparing the next generation of teachers in the Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators programs. The programs are dedicated to addressing the teacher shortage in Illinois.

In addition, Golden Apple said this about Bucciarelli-Carlos, "Beyond her current role, Dr. Bucciarelli-Carlos has held leadership positions in Chicago Public Schools, where she supervised and evaluated administrators, department chairs, teachers, and staff. Her professional experience includes serving as a presenter and panelist at education forums at area colleges and universities. Her work has also been published in academic research, an International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), 21st Century Learning book, and educational magazines."

To learn more about the Golden Apple Foundation, visit the organization's website.