H-F Teacher Catherine Ross-Cook Wins Golden Apple Award

HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR, IL — Catherine Ross-Cook, an English teacher at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, has been named a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching winner.

The award is among the top honors a teacher can receive in her profession, and it recognizes teaching and results that have a significant, positive impact on student growth and learning. Ross-Cook was selected from a pool of 550 contenders.

The award was presented to Ross-Cook Tuesday afternoon in front of her students, family and administrators.

"You don't know what someone carries with them when come into the classroom," Ross-Cook said after she was presented the award.

She said she knew her classroom might be the best place her students can be all day, and if that was the case, she had a message for them: "Think beyond what you thought were your means. Your voice matters. You carry a power like no other.".

Ross-Cook began working at H-F in academic support services, and it was in that job that she discovered that she wanted to teach. She took a job as a security guard to pay for her education degree. She served as a student-teacher at the school, and has taught full time at H-F for nine years. Ross-Cook also is the head coach of the nationally ranked Steppers dance team.

Her colleagues said they nominated her because she has a genuine passion for the teaching profession and she is committed to preparing students with outstanding educational opportunities while creating a solid foundation for personal growth and academic success. She goes out of her way to cultivate a warm and supportive environment in her classroom while maintaining high standards, they said, and she makes her students feel known and loved.

Her students describe her as inspiring, selfless and authentic.

Golden Apple recipients win a sabbatical in the spring and $5,ooo in cash.