Five teachers in Marion County received Golden Apples during surprise classroom visits on Friday, and they are now in contention to be named Marion County’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.
According to Marion County Public Schools, dozens of individuals including Superintendent Dr. Diane Gullett, Marion County School Board and Public Education Foundation Board members, district leaders, and community residents traveled a 93-mile route to surprise all five finalists and Golden Apple recipients.
All Golden Apple teachers have at least four years of classroom experience. This year’s class of Golden Apple teachers includes:
Nedra Huggins (Belleview Middle School)
Huggins teaches Introduction to Health Sciences to middle school students (6th through 8th grade). She has 20 years of classroom teaching experience including 15 years with MCPS.
John Gibb (Lake Weir High School)
Gibb teaches Pre-International Baccalaureate English to 9th and 10th graders. His seven years of experience have all taken place in MCPS classrooms.
Jamie Roche (Maplewood Elementary School)
Roche is an art teacher who comes into contact with every student on campus throughout the week. Roche’s 23 years of teaching experience have all been with MCPS.
Lindsey Bigelow (Ocala Springs Elementary School)
Bigelow teaches first grade English Language Arts and has 10 years of teaching experience, all with MCPS.
Cheryl Goldner (Saddlewood Elementary School)
Goldner teaches math and science to fourth-grade students. She joined MCPS six years ago and has nearly 30 years of classroom experience.
In addition to the Golden Apple recipients, three additional surprise honors were handed out on Friday, including:
Marion County Rookie Teacher of the Year: Jennifer Bachmaier (Hammett L. Bowen Jr. Elementary School)
Bachmaier is an Exceptional Student Education teacher who has been with MCPS for one-and-a-half years, with an additional year of classroom experience outside of the district. According to MCPS, rookie teachers have no more than three years of classroom experience.
MCPS School-Related Employee of the Year: Erin Webber (Fort McCoy School)
Webber is a Guidance Clerk and front desk receptionist who has been with MCPS for six years.
Above and Beyond Award: Mark White (Vanguard High School)
White is a technical services and school maintenance worker who manages daily responsibilities at his alma mater, Vanguard High School. He joined MCPS in 2007 and transferred to Vanguard last year.
The five Golden Apple recipients and Rookie Teacher of the Year will take part in the Golden Apple Gala on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 7 p.m. at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala. The event will air live on the Marion Education Channel and it will also be streamed live on the MCPS YouTube Channel.
At the upcoming Gala, one of the five finalists will be named Marion County’s 2023 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year and will drive away in a new, pre-paid, three-year leased vehicle from Jenkins Auto Group, according to MCPS.
For more information, contact Executive Director Meghan Magamoll with the Public Education Foundation of Marion County via phone (352-671-4160) or email (Meghan.Magamoll@marion.k12.fl.us).