Thank you to all the Teachers, Students, Administrators, and Parents who plan to come and speak on my behalf in person and via Skype on Wednesday, April 11th when the Golden Apple Selection Committee comes to learn about our art program at Dryden.

Thank you to all the online friends who shared their thoughts on my WallWisher Wall.

And thank you to Ms. Hart who dedicated class time with her 1st and 2nd grade students to making this video about how Art Inspires them (see below).

If I win a Golden Apple it will be because of the great kids at the core of Dryden's Art Program!
Let's celebrate my Dryden Artists!
Below is a video that highlights my students' enthusiasm for learning, beautiful art-making, overwhelming creativity, and amazing accomplishments. 

The latest Northwest suburban teachers to make the cut as Golden Apple finalists are an art teacher (that's me) who uses filmmaking to engage her students, a dual language teacher who promotes bilingualism, and a second-grade teacher who makes connections for his students and their families. Read the Daily Herald Story and see the rest of the images here.
The story mentions my students' movies (Fugleflicks). Here are the links if you're interested:
Push up Your Sleeves
Elementary Musical
Rotoscoping Animation



Dryden Parents and Teachers:
Are you willing to be interviewed on my behalf by the Golden Apple Team during their site visit?
Please use this form 
You will be contacted when the date and times are known.
Thank you so much for your support!

Over the weekend I received a packet from the Golden Apple Foundation. I think that moment will be burned into my memory forever with my husband standing over me saying, "Open it open it! I'm sure it's good news". My heart was betting so fast I couldn't focus.  All I could see was the word Congratulations followed (followed by tears and screams of excitement).
I felt like a winner for just being nominated back in December by Carol Broos, a recently retired music teacher and Golden Apple Award winner 2008, who found my website and was impressed by the things I was doing with my students. 
I'm completely stunned to find that I'm a finalist. This is really an honor when you consider their were over 500 nominations from across the state this year. They narrowed the nominations down to 32 finalists (press release listing all 32 finalists).
Next step is a site visit with interviews of students, parents, teachers, and myself. They only award the GOLDEN APPLE to 10 teachers each year based on these visits.

If you would like to share your thoughts about Dryden's Art Program please post a sticky on my Wallwisher page HERE.