Over 600 nominations describing superb lecturers poured in, and 1000’s of votes had been solid. Now, the time has come to disclose the winners of our tenth Annual Crystal Apple Awards.
Every yr, School Specialty invitations educators and college communities to appoint deserving lecturers who embody our key contest standards of inspiration, management, and keenness. This yr’s nominees had been all really inspiring and deserving of this honor!
We chosen 10 finalists and invited you to vote for the highest 3 winners. Thank you to everybody who despatched in nominations and voted. More importantly, thanks to all of the lecturers who encourage college students and their communities day by day with their ardour and dedication.
Here are the three Outstanding Winners!
Congratulations to our three winners! Each winner receives a Crystal Apple trophy, a $500 School Specialty merchandise certificates, and a $250 School Specialty merchandise certificates for his or her college.
Typhani Russo, Commonwealth Charter Academy
Typhani Russo has been instructing for 8 years and has positively impacted lots of of younger folks’s lives. Not solely does she train 4th grade, however she additionally teaches her college students crucial lesson of all: be a compassionate human being.
As the founding father of her personal non-profit group, Bookworms Against Bullies, she conjures up her college students to beat bullying and proactively make a distinction within the lives of others.
Her influence is so nice that one pupil and her pals held a lemonade stand and used the cash they earned to purchase a brand new pair of sneakers for a classmate. In 2021, her college students stunned her after they stopped taking part in throughout recess and started selecting up trash across the college’s perimeter. This quickly grew to become a day by day incidence, so Typhani equipped gloves and baggage and joined them.
Mercedes Salas, Uvalde Elementary School
Mercedes Salas teaches 4th grade in Uvalde, Texas. She has been propelled by means of her energy and bravado to grow to be a hero to throughout her.
Despite the challenges she endured, her ardour for the scholars in the neighborhood compelled her to return to the classroom.
To her college students, Mercedes is greater than a instructor. Her fixed love, kindness, and assist have impacted a lot of her college students’ lives.
Her college students love her as a result of she really and genuinely cares about their well-being and success. She goes above and past for them, and so they see it.
Julie Pfeifer, Abraxas School of Ohio
Julie Pfeifer began her instructing profession later in life. She attended faculty similtaneously her son, together with her daughter in junior excessive, and graduated with honors whereas elevating her household.
Julie has written quite a few grants to offer college students with new alternatives. She has written curricula for brand spanking new programs, together with a Lifeskills class the place the scholars earn certifications, write a resume, discover ways to prepare dinner and stitch, and study taxes, W-4s, W-2s, and retirement plans.
Julie teaches Algebra I and II, Geometry, and Lifeskills. She began a Book Club, an Auto Body Club, and a 3D printing Club for college students to design and create. She is at all times planning new methods to inspire and curiosity her college students.
Congrats to the 7 Inspiring Finalists!
The remaining 7 finalists obtain a Finalist Certificate, a $100 School Specialty merchandise certificates, and a $100 School Specialty merchandise certificates for his or her college.
Creative Environment Day School
Mayfair Elementary School
Edison Elementary School
Pleasant Grove Elementary School
Nichols Elementary School
Manatee School For the Arts
Uwharrie Charter Academy
