BY JENN SAMSEL
Each Year in Clay County, teachers and school-related employees are nominated by their peers for their exceptional commitment to their schools and communities, as well as their dedication to going above and beyond in their everyday lives.
At the Thrasher-Horne Center in Clay County, teachers, family members, friends, and dedicated staff gathered to cheer, chant, and hold signs in support of their favorite Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year for this Year’s Apple Awards.
The Apple Awards took place on Thursday, January 22, at the Thrasher Horne Center in Clay County.
Keystone Heights Elementary, McRae Elementary, and Keystone Heights Junior-Senior High School were all in attendance, each awarding their own Teachers and School-Related Employees of the Year, who were then nominated to compete for countywide recognition.
Teachers of the Year are selected by their peers and compete against other teachers, while School-Related Employees are also nominated by their peers and compete against all non-teaching staff.
There is a thorough selection process, including interviews, to determine the recipients of these prestigious awards. Once awarded at the local level, winners advance to the county level, where they compete against their peers countywide. This Year, there were a total of 44 Teachers of the Year and 44 School-Related Employees of the Year.
Allison Sanders, a sixth-grade math teacher, received the Keystone Heights Elementary Teacher of the Year award this Year.
“It was more of an honor to win it for my school than it is to win it on the county level, but for being in the classroom, in the Gen Ed setting, for only two years now, and teaching for I think my fourth year, I feel like it’s a pretty big milestone to hit right out the gate,” said Sanders.
“Keep the kids first and everything else will fall in line, and always put others first,” she said.
Shannon Bishop, the Principal Secretary and Bookkeeper at Keystone Heights Elementary, was named School-Related Employee of the Year.
“Being kind and working closely with the admin team, if we have happy employees, then we have a good team and a happy school,” said Bishop.
At McRae Elementary, Amy Dawn Batchelor was named Teacher of the Year.
Tara Barrett, an ISS assistant, received the School-Related Employee of the Year award. This Year, she was recognized for going above and beyond by managing three positions while her teammate was on maternity leave.
“Don’t think things go unseen. Everybody can see what you’re doing and all of the hard work that everybody here at McRae puts in for these kids,” said Tara Barrett.
She would love to be a teacher and has begun pursuing her elementary education degree.
“We must recognize hard work for children, recognize that people are willing to learn and grow, and that people go above and beyond. They do more than what is expected to help kids in many, many different ways. It’s important that we recognize hard work and dedication,” said Tammy Winkler, McRae Elementary Principal
Mrs. Winkler acknowledged that McRae Elementary maintains its A status, which is difficult to achieve and uphold each Year.
Haley Julius, a PBS teacher’s assistant, won the School-Related Employee of the Year award at Keystone Heights Junior-Senior High School.
“I honestly just wanted to thank them because without the KHHS team, it would not have happened. We work together really well in our unit, and even the admin, teachers, and assistants work together to be able to see the hard work that we do every day,” said Julius.
“Biggest thing is just to show up. The biggest thing for this team is showing up for the kids, showing up for the adults, and just being there every day with a smile on your face. No matter if there are going to be rough or hard days,” she said.
She does plan on pursuing a teaching career.
April Goolsby, History, Civics, and Psychology, a teacher with 30 years of experience, won the Keystone Heights Junior-Senior High School Teacher of the Year award.
“I’m very honored that my peer group would think highly of me, to choose me to represent them, because I feel like there are so many other teachers here that deserve it,” said Goolsby.
“To teachers, newer teachers, hang in there. Give it some time. It does get easier. Don’t give up,” she said.
This is her second time receiving the Teacher of the Year award.
“It’s really fun to be able to celebrate the positive things happening in education, and those who do the hard work every day should be recognized for that every day,” said Laurie Burke, Principal of Keystone Heights Junior-Senior High School.
“Just keep showing up. We call it Indian strong here at Keystone Heights High School because, you know, sometimes the hardest part in our jobs is showing up. The kids bring you joy, and we know that they need us,” said Burke.
This Year’s Teacher of the Year for Clay County was Dorothy Bailey from Grove Park Elementary in Clay County. She also received a free car from Gerber Collision.
The School-Related Employee of the Year award for Clay County was presented to Mr. Jenner Pereda from Ridgeview High School.
The Apple Awards have been a very long-standing tradition among Teachers and Staff in Clay County.
Congratulations to all the teachers and school-related employees for their participation this Year!
