Round Lake teacher Kristina Lancaster has won the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, which she learned about in front of the entire school during a surprise announcement at a Thursday afternoon assembly.
The Big Hollow Elementary School teacher is one of 10 award recipients in Illinois. The statewide awards recognize and honor outstanding teachers for their roles in having lasting, positive effects on students and building stronger communities.
The reveal was a tidy operation. Teachers, parents, school administrators and Golden Apple officials coordinated together to have Lancaster at a school assembly in the gymnasium, wearing a blindfold for what she assumed to be some kind of game.
But when she took off her blindfold, a small pack of media, Golden Apple representatives and Lancaster’s loved ones rushed forward to greet her, the snap of camera flashes overpowered by the roar of high-pitched cheers from the crowd of students.
A stunned Lancaster accepted a gift basket of chocolates and a novelty check. The win came with a $5,000 cash award and a spring sabbatical provided by Northwestern University at no cost.
Alan Mather, president of Golden Apple Foundation, was having the time of his life. The surprise visit is one of his favorite parts of the job, he said.
“To go around and surprise teachers and educators with awards, it’s just amazing,” he said.
Lancaster embodies all the qualities Golden Apple looks for in teachers, Mather said, praising her for her civic engagement, “growth mindset,” and belief in students’ ability to learn.
“We need people like this, who know the real work to get people to be great teachers,” he said.
A somewhat stunned Lancaster spoke briefly as the assembly wound down. Even being nominated had been validation for her decision years ago to get into teaching; winning is just further proof.
“I know I’m where I’m supposed to be. This is right where I’m supposed to be,” Lancaster said. “I love coming to work every single day, and this just tells me I made a good decision.”
Lancaster is actually a relative newcomer to teaching despite her age, previously working in various fields, including as an attorney and journalist. She’d wanted to be a teacher since college, but had been discouraged by others.
When she was 45, she even successfully ran for the school district’s Board of Education, hoping to “scratch the itch” for teaching. But in late 2012, Lancaster’s 12-year-old son Alex, a middle schooler at Big Hollow Middle School, died in an accident at home, and she decided to move forward with her dream.
“It was sort of like this impetus, ‘What am I going to do?’” Lancaster previously said. “I could have let it wreck everything, but I thought, life is too short to not do what you want to do.”
Lancaster went back to school to get her master’s degree, and this year is her ninth teaching at Big Hollow Elementary. At 56, Lancaster has no plans to quit now.
“Most teachers my age are retiring,” Lancaster said. “I have no interest in retiring … because I love the classroom. I love the kids so much.”
Stacey Mays is a fellow teacher whose two older children have had Lancaster as a teacher. She was one of those interviewed during the nomination process and shared the positive impact Lancaster has had on the students and her accomplishments with the kids.
Her “passion and enthusiasm” for teaching is clear, Mays said.
“She makes a personal connection with students and learns what makes them tick,” Mays said. “She’s just unique. You can tell she cares about each student. She just has that drive.”
Lancaster’s son Mason and daughter Emma were both on hand to celebrate. They had managed to keep the surprise a secret, despite getting the call weeks ago. Their mother is an inspiration for the family, they said, especially her career change.
“I was more so inspired than anything,” Emma said. “It took so much courage for her to do, and now she’s thriving, and I think it’s what she’s always been meant to do.”
The family had been “through a lot together,” but had been brought closer together, Emma said. Both said they are exceedingly proud of their mother.
Lancaster’s story could’ve been a much different one, between the family’s personal tragedy and her late entry into the teaching field. But surrounded by her students, past and present, her family and friends, it was clear to Lancaster what the lesson was on Thursday.
“You’re never too old to do what you want to do,” she said. “They always say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Yes, you can.”
