Chicago teacher named Golden Apple recipient
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Elementary teacher Fontane Thomas was showered with cheers and hugs at Stephen Hayt Elementary School Wednesday morning when he was handed a Golden Apple Award.
Thomas, who teaches at the Northside school, was selected from a pool of more than 600 nominations and is one of 10 Chicago area teachers to be awarded this week.
He was the fourth Chicago Public Schools teacher to be receive the reward this week.
Each Golden Apple Award winners receive a tuition-free, spring-quarter sabbatical to study at Northwestern University and a $5,000 cash award.
Thomas said his job is a labor of love.
"I love my kids. I love my students," Thomas said. "I often look to them for encouragement as I do now. It's really important that I work with these group of kids because they need me and I need them."
