May 2, 2013, GoldenApple.org, CHICAGO — Golden Apple, a leader in advancing the teaching profession in Illinois for 28 years, announced 2013 recipients of the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, including John Kretsos, '92 Sec. Ed.

The 2013 honorees, all high school teachers, were selected from a pool of 510 nominees from throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

The 10 award recipients were surprised inside classrooms throughout the Chicagoland area, including at Kretsos' school, Niles North High School, where he teaches honors chemistry and chemistry.

Golden Apple is a non-profit organization that works to inspire, develop and support teacher excellence in Illinois, especially in schools of need.

Read Golden Apple's press release in its entirety…

SKOKIE.PATCH.COM — Krestos described his chemistry classroom as a comfortable and caring environment where students are encouraged to be themselves and challenge themselves to grow, according to SkokiePatch. Golden Apple representatives said Krestos blends traditional teaching methods with modern technology and pedagogy.