EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumna Catherine Ross-Cook is among 10 Illinois teachers to receive the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. The annual award recognizes and honors outstanding teachers for their role in building a stronger, better-educated society.

Ross-Cook teaches at Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor. She earned a master’s in American and English Literature from SIUE in 2005.

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Golden Apple surprised Ross-Cook with an award presentation in front of students, faculty and school leaders. Photos and video from the surprise announcement show Ross-Cook’s exuberance, as her students look on with delight.

According to her Golden Apple bio, colleagues note Ross-Cook’s genuine passion for the teaching profession: “She is committed to preparing her students with outstanding educational opportunities, while creating a solid foundation for personal growth and academic success.”

“We believe that recognizing exemplary educators helps to elevate the teaching profession to its rightful place of honor,” said Golden Apple CEO Alicia Winckler. “Golden Apple is inspired by the high standards set by these outstanding educators. The quality of their teaching and passion for supporting their students’ growth create an environment in which students are inspired to persevere and attain their dreams. Their work as educators is critical to realizing a better future, and we are proud to recognize their valuable contributions.”

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According to Golden Apple, award recipients are selected by master educators who understand and recognize instructional best practices and who utilize professional standards to evaluate exemplary teachers and school leaders. Members of the selection committee viewed video evidence of instruction and observed finalists’ teaching in-person.

The 2019 award recipients will be featured on a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) one-hour television program. The livestream of the show will air on Golden Apple’s Facebook page on Saturday, May 18.

For more details, visit www.goldenapple.org/awards.

By preparing the next generation of leaders in a knowledge-based economy, SIUE’s Graduate School fulfills the region’s demand for highly trained professionals. Graduate school offerings include arts and sciences, business, education, engineering, nursing and interdisciplinary opportunities. SIUE professors provide students with a unique integration of theoretical education and hands-on research experiences. Students can obtain graduate certificates or pursue master’s degrees, and be part of a supportive learning and rich intellectual environment that is tailored to the needs of adult learners. The Graduate School raises the visibility of research at SIUE, which ranks highest among its Illinois Board of Higher Education peers in total research and development expenditures according to the National Science Foundation. Doctoral programs are available in the Schools of Education (EdD) and Nursing (DNP). The School of Engineering and the Department of Historical Studies feature cooperative doctoral programs (PhD), and the College of Arts and Sciences features an Environmental Resources and Policy cooperative PhD.

-SIUE-

Photo: SIUE Alumna Catherine Ross-Cook earned a 2019 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. Photo courtesy: Golden Apple

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