Golden Apple Teachers of the Year
Five more teachers now have Golden Apples thanks to their impressive teaching careers, styles, impact and philosophies. This year’s esteemed group of Golden Apple teachers includes:
- Kathleen Williams, Lake Weir High
- Helene Hotaling, Madison Street Academy
- Ingrid Johnson, North Marion Middle
- Jeremy Rhoden, Vanguard High
- Norma Barnes, West Port High
One of these five becomes Marion County’s 2018 Teacher of the Year and receives a free three-year Acura car lease compliments of Jenkins Auto Group here in Ocala. Of course, he or she also advances to represent Marion County in Florida’s Teacher of the Year program. Good luck to these five finalists!
This Rookie Rocks
Meantime, Michael Hartman sports a red marble apple these days after being named Marion County’s 2018 Rookie Teacher of the Year. Hartman, a biology teacher at West Port High, is in his third year of teaching—all in Marion County! A Florida Gator (class of 2014), Hartman received the surprise apple visit when both his wife and young son were on campus. Of course, he credits his students for his success and says teaching “is the most uplifting thing one person can do for another.”
Harmony In The O-Dome
Music is alive and well in our local elementary schools. As proof, Shady Hill Elementary students in the school’s Harmony music program, along with their teacher, Sondra Collins (back row, left), shared a musical performance of the national anthem recently at the University of Florida’s O’Connell Center. The group performed for the UF women’s basketball game against Alabama.
