Four NFM teachers among Golden Apple finalists
Since 1986, the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools has recognized teachers who go above and beyond to make their classroom experience an empowering one.
Nearly 200 teachers have been honored with the Golden Apple award, the highest honor a teacher in Lee County can get and what many teachers have called a pinnacle of their career.
North Fort Myers has had its share of Golden Apple winners, including two teachers from North Fort Myers High School last year, Taylor Ashby and Kaleigh Stewart.
This year, four teachers from schools in North Fort Myers have been named among the 30 finalists for the 2023 award which will be awarded to six educators in March, marking the program’s 36th year.
They are Lindsay Maxwell, Bayshore Elementary; Dr. Katherine Callard, Carrie D. Robinson Littleton Elementary; Danielle Hopkins, Hancock Creek Elementary; and Kathy Rivadeneira, North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts.
Maxwell, a fifth-grade teacher, is a finalist for the second time, having been named one in 2020 just before COVID. She said this is a team effort between her and her kids.
“It’s always been about my students, so when I was announced as a finalist, I ran in and told my kids. I said we are finalists because they helped writing my application and talking through it,” Maxwell said. “They are a part of it. We have observers coming in and if they’re not comfortable with it, I just wouldn’t do it. But they’re so excited about it. I want to win for the kids.”
Callard, who teaches second grade and has been at Littleton for 21 years, has been a Golden Apple finalist four times and a Teacher of Distinction twice, said being a finalist is exciting — and stressful.
“To be nominated by your students is an honor because they took the time to nominate you. So to go through the process and meet new people and network is a great honor. It’s great that the hard work we are doing is being recognized,” Callard said.
Hopkins, an art teacher, has spent her 10-year career at Hancock Creek. She was a Teacher of Distinction two years ago and this is her first time as a Golden Apple finalist.
“I was overwhelmed with joy. I was surprised and humbled. They made the announcement at a school dance an they gave me a group hug,” Hopkins said. “I work hard like all the other teachers. I try to go above and beyond and make my lessons as engaging as possible for my students, and I love them.”
Rivadeneira is no stranger to being named a top teacher. In 2016 she was presented a Lighthouse Award for her work in the Cape Coral Charter School system.
For Rivadeneira, a middle school drama teacher, this is her second time as a nominee, having been a Teacher of Distinction last year. It took her a while to go through the process, as it is a lot of work.
“I finally went through the whole process last year. When I was named Teacher of Distinction I got to go to a party and that was it,” Rivadeneira said. “This year will be tougher because they will observe and interview me, so that will be a little nerve wracking.”
Students, parents, teachers, administrators and the public can nominate any Lee County School District teacher who is making an extraordinary contribution to students.
Typically, more than 6,000 nomination forms are submitted each year nominating over 2,000 individual teachers, who apply to become selected.
The Golden Apple Selection Committee, made up of community and business leaders, is charged with selecting the Golden Apple recipients as the applications are reviewed and narrowed down to 100 semifinalists, then 30 finalists.
Those finalists are personally interviewed and observed in their classrooms by the Selection Committee and six teachers are chosen as recipients of the award.
The six recipients are guests of honor at the annual Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Banquet, where the community recognizes the Golden Apple recipients, finalists, Teachers of Distinction and members of the Academy of Teachers. NFMNL