Lauren Pietruszka ’09 was recently hired as the new Director of Academic and Social Supports for the Golden Apple Foundation in September 2016. Golden Apple is a non-profit organization that works to inspire, develop and support teacher and school leader excellence in Illinois, especially in schools-of-need. As a 2005 Golden Apple Scholar, Lauren pursued secondary English education at IWU, obtained her Master of Arts in Teaching at National Louis University in 2010, and taught Literacy and AVID courses for six years in Chicago Public Schools. Now as the Director, she is responsible for supporting 600+ undergraduate Golden Apple Scholars throughout the state as they earn their baccalaureate degrees and become teachers in Illinois schools-of-need.