TEACHERS AWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE
Seven NM teachers awarded for excellence
Seven New Mexico elementary school teachers named Golden Apple winners.
Seven New Mexico elementary school teachers from four different communities across the state have been named recipients of the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching for 2019.
“Announcing the Golden Apple Award recipients and Teachers of Distinction is the proudest day of the year for us,” said Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico Executive Director Brian O’Connell in a statement.
“These teachers are inspirational, and it is a profound honor to reward them for their hard work and commitment to educating New Mexico’s children,” he said.
The award includes a stipend and $4,000 to be used by each recipient toward their professional development. They also become part of an ongoing professional community of outstanding teachers called the Golden Apple Academy of Fellows.
The 22-year-old program honoring exceptional teachers gathers nominations from their communities and then conducts a rigorous application and site visit process, organizers said in a news release.
The 2019 recipients are: Michael Anderson, Inez Elementary School in Albuquerque Public Schools Brittany Behenna
Griffith, Nye Early Childhood Center in Santa Fe Public Schools
Sharon Eanes, Double Eagle Elementary School in Albuquerque Public Schools Cynthia Gustamantes, McCoy Avenue Elementary in Aztec Municipal Schools
Amy Lauer, Monte Vista Elementary School in Albuquerque Public Schools
Roxanne Mitchell, Sandia Elementary School in Clovis Municipal Schools Stephanie Walstrom, Bandelier Elementary School in Albuquerque Public Schools
They were selected from among 329 nominees in 77 different New Mexico communities. All nominated teachers must complete a lengthy application describing their teaching methodology, professional development experiences, volunteerism, and other aspects of their teaching philosophy, organizers said. The program also honors the nine teachers who were part of that group that did not receive Golden Apples as Golden Apple Teachers of Distinction.
They are: Bella Chandler, S.Y. Jackson Elementary School in Albuquerque Public Schools Jacqueline Cook, Georgia O’Keeffe Elementary School in Albuquerque Public Schools Shelly Grim, Arts Academy at Bella Vista in Clovis Municipal Schools
Christi Hartley, Arts Academy at Bella Vista in Clovis Municipal Schools Kimberly Henderson, Osuna Elementary School in Albuquerque Public Schools
Kristin Herrmann, North Star Elementary School in Albuquerque Public Schools Samantha Nelson, Esperanza Elementary School in Farmington Municipal Schools
Shari Stewart, Manzano Day School in Albuquerque
Penny Voss, Manzano Day School in Albuquerque
All of these educators will be honored on Friday, April 5, 2019, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Albuquerque.