Niles West High School co-teachers Dillin Randolph, Ed.M. '20 EPOL and current  Ed.D. student, and Elizabeth Dribin-Khoshaba were surprised this afternoon with a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching at Niles West High School in Skokie. 

Because of Randolph and Dribin-Khoshaba's outstanding ability to operate as a teaching team in the classroom, they will share a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. This is the first time two co-teachers have been recognized with the award. Randolph and Dribin-Khoshaba are two of 11 award recipients in Illinois. 

Randolph has won impressive awards within his eight years of teaching, including the Illinois State Board of Education's Cook County Co-Regional Teacher of the Year, Teach Plus Policy Fellow of the Year, and NCTE Early Career Educator of Color Award Winner. His creative teaching methods have earned him recognition as a "kid magnet" who can read the room and adjust his approach based on the students' energy.

What sets Randolph apart is his commitment to fostering a creative learning environment and his efforts to stand up for his students' needs and potential.

Additionally, he incorporates innovative instructional strategies and leads collaborative projects with local community partners that inspire his students to become active learners.

The Golden Apple Foundation is the leading Illinois-based nonprofit committed to preparing, mentoring, honoring, and retaining great educators who advance student educational opportunities. As statewide awards, the Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching recognize and honor outstanding teachers for their roles in having lasting, positive effects on students' lives and building stronger communities. 

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership recipients receive a cash award of $10,000, with $5,000 for the school leader and $5,000 for the school for a project of the recipient's choosing. Award recipients also become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, a community of educators who play an essential role in preparing the next generation of teachers in the Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators programs—initiatives dedicated to addressing the teacher shortage in Illinois.