East St. Louis Teacher Named Finalist for Golden Apple Award

EAST ST. LOUIS - Meonshai Houston, a fourth-grade English Language Arts and social studies teacher at Annette Harris Officer Elementary School in East St. Louis, has been named one of 30 finalists for the 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, selected from nearly 600 nominations statewide.

The East St. Louis School District 189 said Houston was recognized for the impact she is making in the classroom at the East St. Louis school.

“Congratulations, Mrs. Houston! Your dedication and passion continue to inspire your students and our entire school community,” East St. Louis School District 189 said in comments.

Houston “pairs rigorous instruction with a strong commitment to student growth,” using what the district described as a cyclical, data-driven approach. The district said she analyzes district assessment results, aligns instruction to priority standards, and designs common pre- and post-assessments that measure growth across multiple Depth of Knowledge levels.

During a recent instructional cycle focused on determining the main idea and summarizing informational text, the district said 68 percent of Houston’s students achieved ELA proficiency, and none scored below proficient.

The district also described Houston’s classroom as “rooted in student voice and shared success.” The district said she uses strategies including “silent appointments,” which allow students to choose partners using nonverbal cues, and “musical shares,” intended to promote peer dialogue in a low-pressure setting. The district said that when the class reaches 100% accuracy during review activities, students “celebrate together,” reinforcing the idea that success is shared.

Beyond her classroom, the district said Houston supports colleagues with data analysis, lesson design, and instructional planning. It also said that during “a year marked by personal loss,” she maintained high expectations and stability for her students, strengthening academic growth and resilience across the school community.

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