Four Crete-Monee Principals Nominated for Golden Apple Awards

January 28, 2026/

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Crete-Monee School District 201-U Meeting | Jan. 20, 2026

Article Summary: Superintendent Dr. Kara Coglianese announced that four district principals have been nominated for the prestigious Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Leadership. The nominations originate from the staff at their respective schools.

Golden Apple Nomination Key Points:

Nominees: Kokona Chrisos, Kelly Chesta, Dr. Lisa Miller, and Lamont Holifield.
Significance: The Golden Apple is a statewide recognition program for educational excellence.
Process: Nominees were selected by their staff members to enter the pool of candidates.

The Crete-Monee School District 201-U Board of Education on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, celebrated the announcement that four of its principals have been nominated for the Golden Apple Awards.

Superintendent Dr. Kara Coglianese revealed the nominees during her administrative update. The recognized administrators are Kokona Chrisos, Kelly Chesta, Dr. Lisa Miller, and Lamont Holifield.

“Just to be nominated is truly just an honor and recognition from the staff,” Coglianese said. “I just wanted to make sure that you knew what fabulous principles and administrators we have.”

The Golden Apple Awards honor educators who demonstrate superior leadership and have a positive impact on their school communities. The nominees will now proceed through the selection process, which includes further evaluation to narrow down the finalists.

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