Wheaton Warrenville South Teacher Chosen Golden Apple Finalist

WHEATON, IL — A longtime Wheaton Warrenville South High School chemistry teacher is among 30 finalists for the coveted Golden Apple Awards for excellence in teaching and could be surprised this spring as a recipient of the award, the Illinois-based not for profit organization announced on Tuesday.

Phillip Culcasi is among the finalists after the ninth and 10th grade teacher at Wheaton Warrenville South was recognized for running “a masterclass in learning and instruction,” the Golden Apple Award organization said in a news release announcing the finalists.

“Under Culcasi, students are always greeted enthusiastically and emphatically at the door each day, and instruction is given through modeling, exploration, discovery, celebration and even calculated risk-taking,” the organization said. “Students are guided toward discovery and are celebrated upon gleaning important insights.

The finalists were chosen after a highly competitive process that resulted in the naming of the 30 finalists who are all 9th-12th grade teachers.

“These last two years have truly taken a toll on teachers, staff, families, and students,” Alan Mather, president of Golden Apple said in the news release. “While great teachers have always been impactful, this is particularly true during this past year, where these finalists have demonstrated the commitment to providing ongoing support and high-quality instruction to their students and we are proud to honor them.”

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

The 2022 Golden Apple Award recipients will be surprised in the spring and Northwestern University provides a spring sabbatical to award recipients at no cost. Each recipient receives a $5,000 cash award, the release said.

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, the organization said.

“Teachers —like these finalists — are in high demand across our state and country,” Alicia Winckler, CEO of Golden Apple said in the release. “The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching recognizes and elevates this critical profession. With a growing teacher shortage, we need more highly effective teachers to positively impact the lives of students in all of our communities.”