Dominic Belmonte

Dominic Belmonte served the Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching for thirty years, concluding as its President and Chief Executive Officer. For twenty years prior, Dom was an English teacher and Chairman of the Department. Dom co-created the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois, a pre-induction advanced teacher preparation and mentoring program which during his tenure brought 2000 people to teaching careers in Illinois. In 1996, he also co-created the GATE (Golden Apple Teacher Education) program, Illinois’ first alternative pathway to teacher certification which brought over 400 mid-career adults to Chicago classrooms.