District 113 Teachers Named Golden Apple Finalists

Deerfield High School teacher Eugene Chung and Highland Park High School teacher Weifang Wang have both been selected finalists for the 2013 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. Chung and Wang were two of 32 finalists picked from 510 educators nominated throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

“I was very surprised and humbled,” Chung said about getting selected.

"I am very excited and very grateful,” Wang commented.

The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching recognize and honor outstanding teachers for their role in building a stronger, better-educated society.

Chung has been teaching Chemistry at DHS for the past 16 years and is also the girls and boys varsity volleyball coach. Wang has been teaching Chinese at HPHS for the past seven years.

“The tenacity and passion that these teachers possess for their classrooms, schools and communities are inspiring,” President and CEO of Golden Apple, Dominic Belmonte, said. “They represent the epitome of excellence in education. We are proud to have them represent Golden Apple’s mission to inspire, develop and support teacher excellence in Illinois.”

Chung and Wang and the other finalists will participate in a final round of review
and observations prior to the announcement of the ten Golden Apple recipients
in May.

Each Golden Apple Award recipient receives a tuition-free, spring quarter sabbatical to study at Northwestern University. Each recipient also receives a $3,000 cash award. Award recipients also become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators.