26-02-2025
Golden Apple Award: Congratulations to Tara Fox!
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (WROC)— Congratulations to Tara Fox, our latest Golden Apple Award winner. Fox is a reading teacher at Calkins Road Middle School in Pittsford. She was nominated for a Golden Apple Award by the Winter family. For them, school has always been a worry. 8th grader Craig was diagnosed with brain and spinal cord cancer when he was two. Because of all the treatments he endured at a young age, his parents were told he might never be able to read the way other kids do.
'We were told when he was very young that he may have to learn to read differently and we knew that provided such a challenge of coming to school and feeling different and just feeling frustrated,' says Kim Winter.
But all of that worry disappeared when he met Tara Fox in 6th grade. She is a reading teacher at Calkins Road Middle School and has worked with Craig for the past 3 years.
'Mrs. Fox just created this safe haven of a spot for craig and his other peers. We've watched as he has worked with her these last three years and really thrived in her classroom,' Kim Winter adds.
Craig says, 'she doesn't do it because there's not a lot of teachers, she does it because she genuinely cares about kids and puts in all her time and effort and she's just very caring.'
They wanted to show their appreciation by surprising her with a Golden Apple Award. 'I am not surprised very often. This is amazing,' Fox says.
Tara Fox has been teaching for 16 years. It's something she always wanted to do. She says that building relationships with her students is the best way to help them learn. 'Craig and I have had a great relationship since the start of his 6th grade year, and he's worked through so many things himself. I think just having our solid relationship with one another has helped him grow and know that I am here to support him in any way, and I am really proud of the growth he has made as well,' says Fox.
Principal Josh Walker adds, 'She is all about those relationships. She makes meaningful connections with her kids, knows them as individuals not just learners and everything she does in her classroom is about those kids.'
Her support has been there both in and out of the classroom. She regularly let's student eat lunch in her room if the need a break. She also joined Craig's team at the Stroll for Strong Fundraiser. 'She holds a special place in our hearts because she has instilled a love of reading in Craig and is just someone that he looks forward to seeing every day,' Kim Winter adds.
Golden Apple Award: Congratulations to Tara Fox!
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