How to Get Involved With Golden Apple or Bring Its Programs to Your State

Updated

Golden Apple offers several ways to get involved depending on who you are: individuals can donate, partner, or apply for a job; aspiring teachers can apply to preparation programs in Illinois, Michigan, or New Mexico; Illinois residents can nominate educators for awards; and state or institutional leaders can contact Golden Apple about bringing its programs to a new state. The right path depends on whether you want to give, work, train, or expand the model.

If You Want to Support the Mission

Golden Apple's stated mission is to inspire, develop, and support teacher and school leader excellence, especially in schools-of-need. The site lists three direct ways to join that mission:

  • Make a donation — a general way to fund the work.
  • Become a partner — for organizations that want to collaborate.
  • Join the team — for people who want to work at Golden Apple itself.

These are the entry points if your goal is financial or organizational support rather than becoming a teacher.

If You Want to Become a Teacher

Golden Apple runs teacher preparation programs, which it describes as a way to expand the pipeline of effective, diverse educators, especially in schools-of-need. The site currently names three states where you can apply:

State Action on the site
Illinois Apply to the Aspiring Teacher Program
Michigan Apply to the Aspiring Teacher Program
New Mexico Apply to the Aspiring Teacher Program

The organization says it is "currently operating in Illinois, Michigan and New Mexico and expanding to more." If you live outside those three states, the site does not list an application path for you yet — the relevant option is the state-expansion contact described below.

A separate pathway targets veterans: the Veterans Into Teaching initiative is framed as a way for veterans to turn their experience, leadership, and commitment to service into a teaching career. If that describes you, look for the Veterans Into Teaching page rather than the general aspiring-teacher application.

If You Want to Honor an Educator (Illinois Only)

The nomination options on the site are tied to Illinois. You can nominate:

  • A teacher
  • A high school teacher
  • A school leader
  • A Pre-K–12th grade school leader

The site also highlights the 2026 Excellence in Teaching & Leadership Award Recipients in Illinois, which shows what the award recognition looks like in practice. If you are outside Illinois, the site does not list a nomination route for your state.

If You Want to Bring Golden Apple to Your State

This is the most direct answer for state or institutional leaders: the site explicitly invites contact from anyone who wants to bring its programs to their state ("Want to bring our programs to your state? contact us"). The organization describes its work as "scaleable solutions," which is the framing to use when you reach out — you are asking about adopting a teacher-preparation model, not signing up as an individual.

Before contacting, it helps to know what you would be asking for. Golden Apple's model combines:

  1. Teacher preparation — recruiting and training aspiring teachers, with a focus on schools-of-need.
  2. Awards — recognizing excellent teachers and school leaders (currently in Illinois).
  3. Pipeline expansion — the stated goal of resolving teacher shortages by broadening who enters the profession.

A useful first message would name your state, the shortage or pipeline problem you want to address, and which part of the model interests you.

Staying Informed

The news section is the place to track new programs and award announcements. Recent items include Golden Apple being named one of Crain's Chicago Business' Best Places to Work, the launch of the Veterans Into Teaching pathway, and a series of award surprises at named Illinois schools. Reading these gives you a sense of current activity before you decide which involvement path fits.

Quick Decision Guide

  • Want to give or collaborate? Donate or become a partner.
  • Want to work there? Join the team.
  • Want to teach and live in IL, MI, or NM? Apply to the Aspiring Teacher Program for your state.
  • Veteran interested in teaching? Start with Veterans Into Teaching.
  • Know a great Illinois educator? Submit a nomination.
  • Leading a state or institution elsewhere? Contact Golden Apple about bringing the programs to your state.