Four North teachers named Golden Apple finalists
After more than 300 applications were turned in, the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools has whittled down the field to 30 as finalists for the 29th annual Golden Apple Teacher Awards.
And, as is usually the case, several North Fort Myers teachers are among them, while two others were named Teachers of Distinction.
Local finalists include:
Jennifer DeCicco, J. Colin English Elementary; Denise Fenicle, North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts; Gwen Gregg, North Fort Myers High School; and Susie Hassett, Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Littleton Elementary, a multiple finalist.
Of the 30 finalists, six will be selected as Golden Apple winners. The recipients will be honored at the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Banquet, a black-tie affair held at Harborside Event Center on April 8.
The Foundation’s Golden Apple Selection Committee, made up of community and business leaders, were charged with the arduous task of reviewing and narrowing down almost 300 applications completed by educators.
Finalists are personally interviewed and observed in their classrooms as part of the Golden Apple Award selection process.
Rounding out the recognized educators this year are the 73 Teachers of Distinction. These teachers ranked high in the selection process and also will be honored at the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Banquet and Golden Apple Social.
North Fort Myers teachers who earned this award were:
Sherri Donnell, Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Littleton Elementary; and Richard A. Jeter, North Fort Myers High School.
North Fort Myers teachers have received numerous honors in recent years. Last year, Adam Malloy of North High was a Golden Apple recipient. Early this year, Matthew Kaye was named Teacher of the Year by the Lee County School Board.
Khrystine Bosland of Bayshore Elementary won the Golden Apple in 2014. In 2012, three teachers, Kim Smith, at North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts; Laura Reed, at Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Littleton; and Billy Lansberry, at North Fort Myers High, were among the honorees.
The Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program was the first major project founded and developed by The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools.
Since its inception in 1987, the Foundation has awarded 165 educators with the prestigious Golden Apple.