UpdatedWed, Mar 10, 2021 at 6:03 pm CT Reply Willard Elementary School kindergarten teacher Meghan Rice, of Highland Park, has taught in Evanston/Skokie School District 65 for the past four years. (Kathy Atkins/via Golden Apple Foundation) EVANSTON, IL — A kindergarten teacher at Willard Elementary School was named a finalist for the 2021 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Meghan Rice, who has taught in Evanston/Skokie School District 65 for the past four years, was selected last month as one of 32 finalists out of more than 700 nominations for the prestigious award, a record in its 35-year history. This year, the award for educators will be given to teachers at the pre-kindergarten to third grade level. Last year, the award went to fourth through eighth grade teachers, and next year it will rotate back to the high school level.