Golden Apple: Arrianna Pickens, RB Wiley Community Charter School
One day while working at a fast food restaurant, this week's Golden Apple Award-winning teacher decided she wanted to do more with her life. And now she is.
Arrianna Pickens teaches at the Robert Benjamin Wiley Charter School in Erie.
'I feel so blessed right now. I work at the best school with the best students. I can't even help but to get emotional right now,' she said.
For Ms. Pickens, this almost didn't happen, until one day south of the border.
'When I was working at Taco Bell I decided I didn't want this life and I wanted to sign myself up for college. I put myself through college. And I knew every single semester I was one step closer to my dream of teaching the youth and being a part of their lives,' she recalled.
Receiving a Golden Apple Award may not have been on the radar of this teacher, but it didn't happen by accident. Ms Pickens always wanted to be that teacher.
'Growing up it has always been a dream to be the teacher that students want to come to and learn from. I'm grateful that I finally accomplished that mission and what's so great about teaching is that it's a never-ending cycle of learning and educating yourself so you can be the best teacher you can be,' Pickens said.
Five years into her teaching career, this Edinboro University graduate is inspiring her students with compassion and kindness
'She deserves this so much. She is so kind to everyone and I love her so much. She is the best teacher in the whole world,' said Skyla Mims, the student nominator.
'Here we have a teacher who says never give up, and we have students who are not going to give up because of that belief system. Well thats a pretty successful combination in my mind,' said Mary Jo Melvin PhD of PennWest University.
To help that success continue a donation from Big Ideas Learning.
'Ms. Pickens has created such a dynamic and fun and engaging environment in her classroom and she's opened her arms and heart to learning in a lifelong way. We are just so thankful to continue her efforts to spread that joy in the classroom with our donation,' said Carissa Snarski of Big Ideas Learning.
Congratulations Arrianna Pickens this week's JET 24 PennWest University Golden Apple Award winner!
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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