FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, January 22, 2021
– (EON: Enhanced Online News) – Gain
The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools Announces the 34th Annual Golden Apple Recognition Program Award Finalists
FORT MYERS, Fla (January 22, 2021) – The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools is pleased to announce the 34th Annual Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program Finalists. The Foundation’s Golden Apple Selection Committee, made up of community and business leaders, were charged with the arduous task of reviewing and ranking applications to select thirty finalists. Finalists were surprised in their classrooms surrounded by students, administrators, and fellow educators.
“During this very trying time in our community and throughout the world, there has been an eye-opening recognition of the importance of the teaching profession”, stated Marshall T. Bower Esq., President & CEO of The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. “Teachers have gone above and beyond to make sure they are meeting the needs of our community’s most valuable asset, our students. These 30 Golden Apple Finalists are outstanding representatives of all our great teachers”.
2021 Annual Golden Apple Award Finalists:
Taylor Ashby – North Fort Myers High
Jamie Ayres – Cape Coral High
Yanet Barrero – North Fort Myers High
Alisa Brown – Hancock Creek Elementary
Dr. Nathan Buehler – Mirror Lakes Elementary
Joseph Camputaro – The Sanibel School
Christy Falk – Allen Park Elementary
Annette Gallipo – Bonita Springs High
Brittany Gonzalez – Tortuga Preserve Elementary
Colt Hartstein – Mariner High
Shelly Hassett – Dr. Carrie D Robinson Elementary
Anne Hester – East Lee County High
Melissa Holland – Tanglewood Elementary
Sarah Jones – Ida S Baker High
Sara Kizzire – Lehigh Senior High
Ashley Koehler – Cape Coral High
Louis Lillard – East Lee County High
Kaisha Louis – Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle
Shelby Massaro – Cypress Lake Middle
Heather Morse – Gulf Middle
Joni Pelletier – Treeline Elementary
Marylin Prysi – Villas Elementary
Jennie Rimes – Fort Myers Middle Academy
Krista Rivera – Gulf Middle
Kristen Santiago – Diplomat Middle
Barbara Scarnato – The Sanibel School
Lori Shaw – Cape Coral High
Trevor Tran – Fort Myers High
Bryan Williams – Mariner High
Dana Windey – Riverdale High
Finalists are personally interviewed and observed in their classrooms by the Golden Apple selection committee, and six teachers are selected as the Golden Apple Award Recipients. The Recipients are honored at the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Banquet, a black-tie affair being held at Caloosa Sound Convention Center & Amphitheater on Friday, April 16, 2021.
Pictured 1/22/21: Golden Apple Finalist Jamie Ayres of Cape Coral High School
Pictured 1/22/21: Golden Apple Finalist Jennie Rimes of Fort Myers Middle Academy and her students
Pictured 1/22/21: Golden Apple Finalist Joseph Camputaro of The Sanibel School and his students
Pictured 1/22/21: Golden Apple Finalist Annette Gallipo with Principal Jeff Estes of Bonita Springs High with staff and students
The Golden Apple Teacher Recognition ProgramTM was the first major project founded and developed by The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. Since its inception thirty-four years ago, as a way to enhance public education by recognizing and rewarding excellence in teaching, the Foundation has awarded 189 educators with the prestigious Golden Apple Teacher Award.
About The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools: 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. The Foundation is rated as a 4-star Platinum nonprofit organization by GuideStar. Find us online at www.leeschoolfoundation.org, on Twitter @FoundationLCPS, and Facebook.
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Contact:
Brittany Carroll
Marketing and Development Director
239.337.0433
Brittany@LeeSchoolFoundation.org