Mr.  Brian Johnson, an English Language Arts teacher at the Alternative/Optional Education Center (AOEC), has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2025 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. 

Mr. Johnson is one of just 30 finalists selected from a highly competitive pool of more than 470 nominations across Illinois. The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching honor outstanding educators who have made a lasting, positive impact on students' lives and their school communities.

Mr. Johnson has been an educator in Waukegan Public Schools for nine years, beginning his career at WHS – Brookside Campus, where he taught Lit Lab and 9th grade literature. Since 2022, he has served as a literature teacher at AOEC, working closely with students in an alternative education setting.

Upon learning of his selection as a finalist, Mr. Johnson expressed gratitude for his students and colleagues. He believes this recognition validates his student-first approach. “This recognition affirms my commitment to a simple philosophy: prioritizing the goals and aspirations of my students above my own,” Mr. Johnson said.

The Golden Apple Foundation, a leading nonprofit dedicated to honoring and mentoring exceptional educators, will announce the final award recipients this spring. Winners will receive a $5,000 cash award and a spring sabbatical at Northwestern University, along with induction into the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, where they will mentor and support future teachers through the organization’s Scholars and Accelerators programs.

For more information about the Golden Apple Foundation and the 2025 finalists, visit Golden Apple’s website.