When Karen Nyberg first learned she was a winner of this year’s Golden Apple Award, the Homewood-Flossmoor High School science teacher was thrilled but also a little apprehensive.
“I was scared to death,” she said. “My first thought was who is going to teach my class while I attend the sabbatical at Northwestern University.” The sabbatical is included in the award.
Nyberg is one of 10 teachers selected by the Golden Apple Award Foundation from a group of 30 finalists in Cook, Lake and DuPage Counties, according to Tim Lemberger, a foundation spokesman.
The finalists were chosen by a group of 75 Chicago-area educators and education administrators from more than 700 nominations that are submitted by school principals, district superintendents and teachers.
In addition to the tuition-free sabbatical at Northwestern this fall, each award winner will receive a $2,500 stipend, a personal computer system and induction into the Golden Apple Academy, a sort of Hall of Fame made up of past Golden Apple winners.
The others are:
More Top Picks Best Plus Size Jeans Top Under 40
– James Stankevitz, physics, Wheaton-Warrenville South High School
– Lee Marek, chemistry, Napervile North High School
– Ramzi Farran, chemistry, Fenwick High School, Oak Park
– Michael Whitmore, history and English, Morton East High School, Cicero
– Miriam Socoloff, fine arts, Lake View High School, Chicago
– Julie Soule, English as a second language, Southside Occupational Academy, Chicago
– Lori Real, art, Crane Tech Prep Common High School, Chicago
– Kathleen Wandro, English, Hoffman Estates High School
– Laine Gurley-Dilger, environment, physiology and animal behavior, Rolling Meadows High School
Nyberg is the second teacher in three years from Homewood-Flossmoor to win the Golden Apple Award, established in 1985 by venture capitalist Martin J. Koldyke and co-sponsored by IBM Corp. and Lucent Technologies. Two years ago, Larry Baran, a special-education teacher at the school, was a recipient.
“What makes Karen a worthy recipient, besides the fact that she is an outstanding teacher, is that the class she puts together and teaches at Homewood-Flossmoor is truly unique,” said Laura Murray, superintendent of Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233. “It’s more than a science lab.
“It’s a place were kids, ranging from those with severe educational difficulties to advanced-placement students, learn not only about plants and animals but also about how plants and animals relate to people and how we can understand ourselves better.”
Although a teacher for 29 years at Homewood-Flossmoor, Nyberg, 51, who lives in Homewood, still brings an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm to her classroom, according to Anthony Moriarity, principal of Homewood-Flossmoor. Moriarity nominated Nyberg for the award.
“I love what I do; I can’t stress that enough,” Nyberg said.
Nyberg’s classroom and laboratory at Homewood-Flossmoor is a place where science literally comes to life.
The room is filled with a variety of 29 animals, birds and reptiles, including such exotic creatures as parrots, macaws, snakes and chinchillas.
“The animals are the hook that get the kids interested in enrolling in the elective science class,” Nyberg said.
“By teaching my students to take good care of animals, I’m trying to teach them about commitment, civility and how to make ethical decisions,” said Nyberg, who, in addition to her classroom animals, has five cats and two dogs of her own.
Next year, Nyberg also hopes to begin teaching her students something about Illinois’ heritage by establishing a natural prairie on the Homewood-Flossmoor campus.
Nyberg, who received her undergraduate education at Mt. Mary College in Wisconsin, will be honored at the WTTW/Channel 11 studios on May 8. The ceremony will be taped and then broadcast by Channel 11 at 8 p.m. May 27.