GOLDEN APPLE NAMED ONE OF CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS' BEST PLACES TO WORK 2025

Nonprofit honored for fostering a supportive workplace as it expands efforts to prepare and retain great teachers

CHICAGO, Sept. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden Apple, a nonprofit committed to recruiting, preparing and supporting aspiring teachers, has been named to Crain's Chicago Business 2025 list of Best Places to Work in Chicago for the first time. This recognition underscores Golden Apple's dual commitment to addressing the teacher shortage crisis while fostering a supportive, inspiring workplace where its team can thrive.

Golden Apple leadership also reflected on this recognition in a Q&A with Crain's Chicago Business, highlighting the organization's culture, values and national growth. The full spotlight can be read here.

"Being recognized as one of Chicago's Best Places to Work is an incredible validation of how we're not only making an impact for students and schools, but also creating an environment where our staff can thrive," said Alicia Winckler, CEO of Golden Apple. "The alignment of our team's hearts and minds with our mission is what makes our work so impactful."

Crain's Chicago Business built its 2025 Best Places to Work list in collaboration with Workforce Research Group, which evaluates workplaces based on culture, retention, benefits and employee experience. The process includes an Employer Assessment that reviews policies and practices, followed by an Employee Feedback Survey that captures staff perspectives. The results are then combined to identify Chicago's top workplaces.

"Golden Apple was founded to honor teachers, and for four decades we've prepared educators who are changing lives," said Alan Mather, Golden Apple President. "To be recognized now, as the teacher shortage intensifies, highlights both the staying power of our mission and the pride our team feels in driving it forward. This distinction also reflects the collaboration and commitment of our staff, whose passion ensures we can continue adapting to meet the needs of students and schools."

The list was revealed at Crain's annual awards event on September 10, 2025, where Chicago's top 100 workplaces were celebrated. All organizations listed in the 2025 Best Places to Work in Chicago can be viewed here.

About Golden Apple

Golden Apple's mission is to inspire, develop and support teacher and school leader excellence, especially in schools-of-need. Our leading-edge preparation delivers exceptional teachers who make a positive and sustained impact. We help students thrive in the classroom and in life. Since our beginning, we have recognized master educators annually; and, these master educators prepare the future generation of teachers. Our vision is one in which every classroom has a great teacher and to realize this, we are committed to making a material difference in resolving the teacher shortage. Visit www.goldenapple.org for more information.

SOURCE Golden Apple