‘Golden Apple’ teachers announced
Six Lee County public school teachers were surprised in their classrooms and presented with “Golden Apples” for outstanding performance Friday.
The 2015 Golden Apple Recipients are:
* Gregory Balan, Varsity Lakes Middle School:
Balan has been teaching a total of 10 years, all of them in Lee County. He is currently teaching Gifted World History, Gifted Civics, Gifted US History, and Rhetoric and Debate to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
* James Kroll, Mariner Middle School:
Kroll has been teaching a total of 12 years, 10 of them in Lee County. He is currently teaching Civics & United States History to 7th and 8th graders.
* Adam Molloy, North Fort Myers High School:
Molloy has been teaching a total of nine years, all of them in Lee County. He is currently teaching AICE Global Perspectives, AICE International History, and AICE US History to 10th and 11th graders. (AICE- Advanced International Certificate of Education)
* Christine Morgan, Rayma C. Page Elementary School:
Morgan has been teaching a total of 13 years, five of them in Lee County. She is currently teaching Physical Education for K-5th grades.
* Kerri Toscano, Gateway Elementary School:
Toscano has been teaching a total of eight years, six of them in Lee County. She is currently teaching General Classwork to 3rd graders.
* Keith White, Cypress Lake Middle School:
White has been teaching a total of 10 years, eight of them in Lee County. He is currently teaching Theater 1, 2, 3, and 4 to 6th, 7th and 8th graders.
“It has been 28 years of celebrating outstanding teachers in Lee County District schools. Once again, we have six teachers who ‘shine’ and are representative of the qualities we want in those who have such a profound impact on our greatest asset, our children”, said Marshall Bower, Esq. , president & CEO of The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, in a prepared statement released Friday afternoon.
“Today’s Golden Apple teachers were chosen after going through an extensive selection process which began in September with a community-wide invitation to nominate teachers deserving of special recognition,” the statement reads. “The final six teachers were selected after completing a three-step process that included a comprehensive application, observation of their classroom teaching skills and personal interviews by the Golden Apple Selection Committee.”
Each recipient receives the following: $3,000 cash award; a professionally-designed Gold Apple and Gold Apple lapel pin; membership in the Academy of Teachers; and invitation to Collegium for the Advancement of Education. The school of the Golden Apple teacher receives a check for $500.
The six recipients also will be guests of honor at the 28th Annual Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Banquet on Friday, April 10, at the Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers. At this black-tie affair, the community will recognize the Lee County Golden Apple teachers, the 30 finalists, 100 Teachers of Distinction and the members of the Academy of Teachers. The Golden Apple Banquet will be broadcast on Sunday, April 12th at 7:00 PM on NBC2. Tickets for the Golden Apple Banquet are on sale to the public at a price of $150.
The Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program Golden Apple Award is presented by The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Golden Apple Major Sponsors, Golden Apple Selection Committee Members, their administrators and colleagues. Each year, the Golden Apple Program recognizes teachers who represent outstanding performance in their profession. Major Sponsors of the 2014-2015 Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program are: CenturyLink, Chico’s FAS, Inc., Lee Memorial Health System, LeeSar, Inc. & Cooperative Services of Florida, NBC2, Suffolk Construction, The News-Press Media Group, and Wells Fargo.
The Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program was the first major project founded and developed by The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc. Since its inception, 165 teachers in the School District of Lee County have received the Golden Apple award. The Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program has received national and state recognition and has become a model for similar programs developed elsewhere in the United States and throughout Florida, including Collier, Hendry and Monroe counties.
About The Foundation: The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc. is a private, 501(c) 3 organization established in 1986. Its mission is to enhance and enrich the quality of public education in Lee County for students and educators through programs, resources and experiences made possible through corporate, individual and educational partnerships.
Source: The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools