Golden Apple selects 36 teacher finalists

Thirty-six Lee County District public school teachers were named finalists in the 21st annual Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program. During the next five weeks these teachers will be observed and interviewed, as part of the ongoing selection process by the Golden Apple Selection Committee members. The Committee is made up of 12 Lee County business and community leaders.

The 36 teachers were selected from a field of nominations by students, parents and the community. Following the nomination of 2,339 teachers, all nominees were given the opportunity to apply for the Golden Apple Award. Six of these 36 teachers will be selected to receive the prestigious "golden apple" award presented during a surprise classroom visit in March. Those chosen will exemplify outstanding performance in the classroom, demonstrating imagination, commitment, communication skills and personal concern for the needs of students. They will be "representatives of outstanding teaching" in the Lee County District public schools.

This year's six Golden Apple recipients will be honored at the 2008 Golden Apple Dinner on Friday, April 4 at Harborside Event Center. The program will be aired live on local television channels from 8 to 9 p.m. with no commercial breaks. In addition to recognition at the dinner, each recipient will receive a $3,000 cash award, the prestigious "golden apple" a golden apple lapel pin (design donated by James Franklin, of Fishel & Dowdy Jewelers), leather portfolio, membership into the Academy of teachers, the on-going activity of the Golden Apple Program and an invitation to attend the Collegium for the Advancement of Teaching. The schools of the six Golden Apple teachers will each receive a $1,000 cash award.

All 36 finalists will be invited to the Golden Apple Dinner and will be recognized on stage during the preprogram activities and on television that evening. They will be presented with a $200 check to use for a classroom project.

In addition, the next level - 65 Teachers of Distinction - will also be invited to the Dinner and Collegium. Although not finalists, they ranked high in the application process.

Major Sponsors of the 2007-2008 Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program are: Bank of America, Chico's Charities; Colonial Bank, EMBARQ; Kraft Construction, Lee Memorial Health System, the News Press and WINK - TV.

The Golden Apple Program was the first major project founded and developed by The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc.