Greenbriar teacher Jeremy Bartunek earns a Golden Apple award

Peek into Jeremy Bartunek's classroom at Greenbriar School in Northbrook, and you may see dancing.

You might also see elementary students gleefully singing or playing musical instruments.

Look closer, though, and you'll see something new: Bartunek's Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, given to him in May to recognize the 11-year teaching veteran as one of the best in the business in fourth through eighth grade.

"I've already got such a great job, this was just icing on the cake," Bartunek said. "I was so honored to receive it and proud of it but regardless, I'm still so lucky to have a job that I love."

The process began with Bartunek's initial nomination in November and continued in February with representatives from the Golden Apple organization visiting Greenbriar to interview Bartunek, teachers, students and parents. The representatives sat in on his classes to get a firsthand look at his teaching techniques, and they obviously liked what they saw.

Bartunek heard the news via Zoom on May 22 that he was one of 10 Golden Apple Award winners in Illinois out of a pool of 732 nominations.

"He encourages students to immerse themselves in the world of music and inspires a love and appreciation that lasts into high school and beyond," said Greenbriar School principal Ginny Hiltz. "We are truly lucky to have him as part of our community."

Bartunek, 35, grew up in a musical family in Minnesota and studied music at Wheaton College. He got his first teaching job in Triopia in central Illinois before landing at Greenbriar 11 years ago.

He's most-proficient in playing drums, guitar and piano but he's certified to teach many more instruments. Not only does teaching keep his skills finely-tuned, he also occasionally plays in bands.

In addition to performing magic shows and being a deejay with his wife, Rachel, Bartunek spends his spare time as a licensed street performer in Chicago. He plays his guitar at the corner of Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue, collects a handful of change in his guitar case and heads back home.

Bartunek brings that same ingenuity into his classroom.

He created a districtwide choir that's become extremely popular. Bartunek and Greenbriar art teacher Jeremy Blair write and produce musicals that are performed by the students each year.

Bartunek says organization is critical to his success. He's also a believer in providing carrots as opposed to sticks to his students.

More than anything, though, there's a comfort level in his classroom that frees students to be brave enough to perform in front of peers and have fun while doing it.

"They've just gotten so comfortable in my class that they're willing to put themselves out there," he said.

Keeping an elementary school music class on task sounds difficult, but Bartunek's classroom runs like a well-oiled machine. His lesson plans are posted on the wall for the students to see, and most days he makes it through the entire agenda.

"Because of the preplanning I'm able to get through 12 activities in a half-hour," he said. "I try to have a good mixture of some stuff that's visual, some stuff that's oral that we're listening to, and some stuff that's physical movement."

Bartunek earns a $5,000 prize for winning the Golden Apple Award as well as a sabbatical at Northwestern University the second semester of the 2020-21 school year. A banquet to honor the award winners is on hold due to the pandemic.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Bartunek is already looking forward to what he hopes will be an in-person reunion in the fall.

"Knowing that someone in the community took the time to nominate me means so much," Bartunek said. "To get in the top 10, I can't quite wrap my head around it."