Latest news with #GoldenAppleAward
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
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- Yahoo
Golden Apple Award: Congratulations to Marti Henderson!
HENRIETTA, N.Y. (WROC) — Congratulations to our latest Golden Apple Award winner, Marti Henderson. Henderson teaches Physical Education at Sherman Elementary in Henrietta. Throughout her 36 years of teaching, she has inspired countless others with her dedication and guidance. 'I've known Marti for over 33 years. We've been together through friendships, different disciplines, different districts and throughout all that time, Marti is the consummate professional. She is so good to her students of course, but she is also really good to us,' Henderson's colleague Anne Marie Leo-Catapano said. 'Not just the young teachers, she inspires and takes good care of them, but she's also very helpful to seasoned teachers. She is everything you want in a colleague, she really is.' Principal Dave Passero said, 'She wears her heart on her sleeve. Every single child matters, and she makes sure that she finds a way to engage each and every student.' For the past six years, Henderson has been teaching Physical Education. The kids call her coach. But, prior to that, she was a science teacher. No matter the subject, she has always been someone students can turn to. Colleague Julia Brongo said, 'She's the go-to person where if they are struggling with insecurities or what have you, they know they can go to coach. She just gives sound advice. She teaches to the whole child, not just Phys Ed, but how to be good humans.' Colleague Keyshawn Brown adds, 'She's taught me a lot of things about being a good teacher and classroom management techniques, how to talk in front of people, project my voice. There's been countless things she's done to help me over the past 2 years.' Mrs. Henderson has decided that this will be her last year teaching. She is retiring after 36 and a half years. Teaching wasn't her first career choice, but it was the right choice. 'After college I became a scientist, and I just didn't love it. But I did love the sciences, so then I decided after that career that I was going to pursue my teaching degree. So I went back to school got it and have loved every minute of it since,' Henderson told News 8. She will be missed, but leaves knowing she has made a difference. She recalls a visit from a former student a few years ago. 'She came over with flowers and balloons and said I just wanted to let you know that I was inspired by your teaching of science and I became a scientist, and I just had to come and tell you…You just don't know what you are going to say or do that could change it for somebody,' Henderson said. Sound advice from a great teacher. Congratulations Marti! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
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- Yahoo
Pella Middle School teacher earns Golden Apple
PELLA, Iowa — The Golden Apple often goes to teachers who have decades of experience in the classroom. Sometimes, we find younger teachers who are making a big difference, too. Just like his name, Hayden Vroom is always on the go and oftentimes loud. 'You can throw kids off by just yelling or standing in a weird spot. Like, if you stand on a desk, they're like 'Whoa what is this guy doing?' But you have their attention all of a sudden,' Vroom explains. 'Anyway, you can get their attention, and if crazy is how you get their attention, then it works.' It works for this math and science teacher who is only in his third year of his first teaching job at Pella Middle School. 'I'm far from the best teacher in the building actually, as far as teaching strategies and all that,' Vroom said. 'But when it comes to passion and energy, I feel like I bring that every single day.' Nominate your favorite teacher for the Golden Apple Award! Passion and energy that make his students want to learn. 'There's never really a dull moment. Like he can always just make someone laugh,' Lauren Van Kley, 8th grade student, said. 'And science has never really been my favorite subject, but he always just finds a way to make it fun.' And teachers want to teach. 'Because of him, everyone has more energy,' fellow teacher Cody DeKruyff said. 'There's more effort given to learning. There's more just overall positivity. And you can feel it when you step into his classroom and areas around it also.' Encouragement that's felt by everyone Mr. Vroom crosses paths with. 'He's just like a pure light in this school,' Sibley Carlstone, 8th grade student, said. 'He never fails to try to get to know all the students. And he's so energetic, and it really brightens everyone's day around here.' It's why several of his students and fellow teachers nominated Mr. Vroom for the Golden Apple. 'Wow… that was like the best kept secret ever,' Vroom said when accepting the award, 'I had no idea, that's kinda awesome. Wow, I'm honored. I'm actually speechless which is saying something because I'm never speechless.' A recognition for a teacher who's always called Pella home. Vroom graduated from Pella Christian and went to Central College to study education. A career path he credits back to the teachers he had in school. 'I think the stereotypical answer is I had some really good role models in my life,' Vroom said. 'Wow, he [one of his former teachers] made history fun. This guy was crazy in his own way. He talked about video games sometimes. Like he was just a person. I'm like man, he's real. He's real. And I'm like I want to be that. I want to be real to kids.' And so far, he's doing just that. 'He also really tries to connect with students,' Van Kley said. 'He's not really like what you think of as a teacher, he's also kind of like a friend and someone you can really trust.' More: Golden Apple Award winners Another 8th-grade student, Kaitlyn Weaver, described him as a 'very caring guy' who cares about everyone. 'They all come from something different, right? You never know what they're coming in with every single day and meeting them where they're at is kind of a big deal to me,' Vroom said. 'And I feel like every single day, you can bring joy. So I try to meet them with some joy every single day and seeing a smile is a win in my book.' Mr. Vroom is also known as 'Coach Vroom.' He is the middle school girls' track coach, as well as an assistant coach for the high school football team. Check out the extended interview with Mr. Vroom below: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Golden Apple Award winner: Congratulations to Amy Marx!
VICTOR, N.Y. (WROC) — Congratulations to Amy Marx, our latest Golden Apple Award winner. Marx is a Kindergarten teacher in Victor and is one of those teachers that everyone wants to learn from. Early Childhood School Principal Robert DeRose says, 'She is positive, she is joyful. She does everything that every child needs. She supports our families, she supports her colleagues and brings joy and happiness to our hallway, school and certainly her classroom.' Inside her Kindergarten classroom, Marx teaches kids to read and write and how to be kind. Parent Erin Fittipaldi says, 'She is the kindest, most genuine person you will meet, and she carries that into the classroom as well.' Marx has been teaching for more than 25 years and most of that time has been spent in Kindergarten. She told News 8, 'These little loves. This is when all the magic happens. This is when they learn how to read and write, and everything for them is just so grand. Their hearts, this is the only place you can come when you first come in that they all give you hugs and love every single day. It's just so special.' 'Her students feel loved, her families feel supported, and every child makes phenomenal progress both with their academics as well as their social, emotional, and behavioral skills,' Principal DeRose said. She feels like she's the lucky one though, getting to call 'teaching' her job. 'It feels so special. These kids work so hard every day, and it's just the best. Kindergarten is fantastic,' said Marx. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Substitute teacher recognized with Golden Apple Award at Standard Middle School
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — First come your parents. But teachers can sometimes be the second most important adults in a child's life. Here is a teacher who came back after 40 years to follow his true calling, and was awarded for his contributions to his students' lives. They hid the award ceremony under the guise of an ice cream social to honor one of his friends at Standard Middle School in Oildale. Really, it was to honor him. 'Mr. Rick Pitts!' 'The staff got me here on false pretenses today… they've fooled me for the last couple months,' Pitts said. 22 years after construction started, angular Panorama Drive mansion is ready for occupancy — by a new owner More than 50 years ago, the now 81-year-old Mr. Pitts was a teacher. The teacher's salary was hard to live on, so he made a change. 'I started farming. I farmed for about 40 years. Then I retired from that and I had missed teaching and I decided to just start substituting,' Pitts said. 'Teaching is something I really love to do.' Now for five years, Pitts has picked up the phone on his original calling. His kindness becoming known throughout the Kern County school systems. He subs all over, but he's made an exceptional impact at Standard Middle School. 'He's been in the community for many, many years, raised his family here… he's done not just things for the community, but every school he comes into contact with, he makes an impact in a child's life or the class's,' Tim Duncan, Pitts' son-in-law, said. The love he shows to his students, almost like a grandfather. Matter of fact, that's what they call him. 'I don't care. At school I'm grandpa to a lot of kids here at Standard… I got a lot of grandkids here,' Pitts said. 'It's very special. I get a lot of hugs here everyday, it's incredible.' Never miss a story: Make your homepage The love he's shown to his community, reciprocated this day. With a special Golden Apple Award: to recognize outstanding teachers. 'I am incredibly happy they did, now that it's over,' Pitts said. Pitts has no plans on stopping. As long as he can, he'll keep subbing. 'Hardest job I've ever had, but the most important job I've ever had… this is a tough time for kids to grow up. So many things get in the way of them growing up, and so many choices to make, things I never even imagined when I was a youngster,' Pitts said. 'They've got it tough, and so just to give them some support and let them know that they're loved and cared for and that they are special.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Golden Apple: Congratulations to Lisa Oliver and Stacy Franzese!
Rochester, N.Y. (WROC) — Congratulations to our latest Golden Apple Award winners, Stacy Franzese and Lisa Oliver! They co-teach first grade at School #16 in Rochester. Parent Marshona Jones-Hymes nominated them for the award as a way to say thank you for all they have taught her twin boys this year. 'These amazing women not only made this choice of work their career, but they also made it a lifestyle. Their dedication and passion for each child individually doesn't go unnoticed. they made my first-grade boys not only love school but also give them a platform to show their talents and abilities, so I am forever grateful and thankful for that,' says Jones-Hymes. Principal Ryan Clair adds, 'their success is deeply rooted in their passion for their kids. It shows, you can feel it, you can sense it. and you stack that with just a great instructional skill set and the children just flourish. You can see it in their results, you can see it in their body language it allows them to soar to new heights.' Jones-Hymes adds, 'each teacher showcases their strength. One focuses on math and the other ELA and the boys come home with stories about each teacher.' Combined, these two teachers have 50 years of experience. Mrs. Oliver has been teaching for 30 years. Mrs. Franzese for 25. Both have spent the majority of their careers in Rochester City Schools. 'We focus very hard on our learning and our growth. we work hard and we play hard and that's my philosophy,' says Franzese. Oliver adds, 'they come to us at the beginning of first grade not being able to read very well, just learning their sounds being able to blend words and now they are reading books and writing paragraphs.' They enjoy working together as a team and are happy to know that parents think it's working too. 'We love it. The students love it. And year after year it has been very successful. If it didn't work, we would stop. But we are just getting better and better each year. We find that we really like to teach together as well,' says Franzese. Lisa Oliver adds, 'It's amazing especially when it is coming from a parent, it makes it 100 times more special because you know you have reached their child, or children in this case because we have both boys. It just makes everything amazing. It just makes it feel like what you are doing is making a difference and having those connections with families is amazing.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
