Golden Apple Finalist: Elk Grove Teacher Receives Honor

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL — While there were 708 nominations from 67 counties in Illinois, there are only 32 finalists for the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. Sara Magnafichi, a first-grade teacher at Admiral Byrd School in Elk Grove Village, is one of the select few.

"Magnafichi promotes the concept of choice and voice for our students in her first-grade classroom. Through her commitment to read culturally responsive picture books daily, she gives her students the opportunity to regularly learn about other cultures and feel celebrated and understood within their own classroom community." — from Golden Apple

Golden Apple, which labels itself as "the leading Illinois nonprofit committed to preparing, honoring and supporting educators who advance educational opportunities for students," annually honors outstanding teachers for having lasting, positive effects on students’ lives and school communities. Teacher finalists demonstrate — in their teaching and results — significant, positive impact on their students’ growth and learning, according to a release from Golden Apple.

The organization also noted Magnafichi teaches her students the "power of one" by helping students understand the difference they can make in their community. For the past four years, she has engaged her students in a civic project to collect over 800,000 pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House Charities, with a goal to collect one million tabs by May of 2021, according to the release. With their teamwork and contribution of a million pop tabs, roughly 20 families will have a safe and nurturing place to stay while their child receives medical care for an extended stay within a hospital.

Recently, Magnafichi was selected as aTeach Plus Fellow and will work with other educators across the state to impact educational policy and benefit all students.

Learn more about Golden Apple finalists here.