Waukegan teacher named Golden Apple finalist; two staff honored by ISBE

Brian Johnson, an English language arts teacher at AOEC, was named a finalist for the 2025 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, Waukegan CUSD 60 said in its weekly update for the week of Feb. 24.

Johnson was listed among 30 finalists chosen from more than 470 nominations across Illinois, the district said. The Golden Apple winners will be announced this spring. The update said Johnson has been with Waukegan Public Schools for nine years.

The district also said two employees received recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education’s Those Who Excel awards. Dr. Tasia Fields, director of student access and achievement, was honored in the school administrator category, and Cynthia Stockman, a seventh‑grade social studies teacher at Miguel Juarez Middle School, was recognized in the classroom teacher category.

Nicholas Alaczakis, the district’s director of communications, congratulated the honorees and called the staff recognitions “well deserved” in the weekly update. The district did not provide additional details about any award-related stipends, selection committees, or next steps during the recording.

Also noted in the update: the district’s annual Black History Month celebration, which this year focused on African Americans and labor and was credited to the district’s FACE team for organizing the event. The update thanked students, staff, parents and community members who participated; no policy actions or budget votes were announced in the weekly message.