Westmont Principal A Finalist For Golden Apple Leadership Honor

WESTMONT, IL — Westmont High School Principal Jack Baldermann is among six finalists for the coveted Golden Apple Awards for excellence in leadership and could be surprised this spring as a recipient of the award, the Illinois-based not for profit organization recently announced.

For Baldermann, all the benefits of a great education — academic accomplishment, rigorous pedagogy and intellectual advancement — mean nothing if that education isn’t rooted in love, service and equity for all, officials said, announcing the local high school administrator as one of Illinois' six finalists for the Golden Apple honor.

That belief drives Baldermann to show up everyday as a principal committed to creating an unparalleled student and teacher learning environment. A leading equity and school culture author, Dr. Anthony Muhammad made mention of this to fact, writing that “the gains made by Jack Baldermann and Westmont High School, especially for students of color and students of poverty, should be studied by scholars nationally and internationally as a beacon of hope for schools striving to produce equity.”

Officials cited Westmont's graduation rates of 100 percent of Black and Latinx students that have graduated in the past nine years, and the overall school graduation rate is 99 percent, officials said in a news release. Westmont also won the National Blue Ribbon Award and is listed as the most diverse high school with the highest poverty rate from Illinois to earn the award in the past two decades. Westmont also ranks number one in Illinois for regular schools for inclusivity, and is in the top one percent in the nation.

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership honors exemplary performance in school leadership by a principal or head of school who has had a significant and sustained positive impact on the school, created a culture of inclusivity, and delivered dramatic student growth, officials said in the release.

“Transformative school leaders like the finalists we are recognizing today affirm, challenge, and support, teachers and students,” Alan Mather, president of Golden Apple said in a statement announcing the finalists. “These school leaders have not only guided their school communities during the most trying of times, they have also empowered teachers and students to thrive. We recognize their leadership, resilience, and commitment to success that elevated those they serve.”

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership recipients receive a cash award of $10,000, with $5,000 for the school leader and $5,000 for the school for a project of the recipient’s choosing.

Award recipients become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, a community of educators who play an important role in preparing the next generation of teachers in the Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators programs — which are dedicated to addressing the teacher shortage in Illinois.

“Leadership matters. Highly effective school leaders design a culture of high expectations for their school communities and facilitate the integration of resources necessary to foster excellence,” Alicia Winckler, CEO of Golden Apple said in a statement. “Our 2022 finalists have delivered a culture of high expectations and sustained growth for their school communities; and, we are proud to honor them.”