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Golden Apple Award: Congratulations to Jennifer Blanchard!

Rochester, N.Y. (WROC)— Congratulations to our latest Golden Apple Award winner, Jennifer Blanchard! She teaches first grade at School #34 in Rochester. But her positive influence is felt throughout the entire school building. Principal Akilah Collins says, 'The reason she is being nominated is because of the things that she does, not just for her students, but the students school wide.' Miss Blanchard runs the ROAR store. She collects donations and uses her own money to stock it full of prizes that kids can buy with ROAR bucks. That money is earned by being RESPECTFUL, OWNING their behavior, ALWAYS doing their best, and being RESPONSIBLE. Colleague Kerry Zito nominated Blanchard, 'At school 34 we have a huge social emotional component of our school and how we run things and want kids to excel in all those components. So that's the motivation and the kids see the excitement in that and buy into that.' Blanchard has been teaching for 17 years. 15 of them at School #34. 'It's just really I love kids, and I feel like I am natural at it, I have always done it. but I can't imagine anything else,' Blanchard says. She sees the reward in going the extra mile to create not only good students, but good people. 'It builds their confidence. And maybe if academics aren't their thing, they can still earn tickets for doing well at school, being leaders in the school and that's 50 percent of life is being a leader and being able to do those kinds of things,' says Blanchard. Her favorite part of teaching is, of course the kids, and their ability to brighten up even a cold and snowy April day. 'If you're having a bad day and you're like oh my goodness and then I kid says I love you or you're my favorite teacher, it's those things or like seeing the growth, a kid that couldn't do something at the beginning of the year and then all of a sudden it clicks. So you know the growth and happiness from the kids. it's all about the kids, nothing else.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.