Today, four outstanding Collier County educators were surprised and honored as this year’s Golden Apple recipients, highlighting their high-impact teaching practices and dedication to elevating the profession. The Golden Apple program, along with Classroom Grants, are Champions For Learning’s Educator Programs, which are designed to value, empower, and support educators to experience professional success and impact over 400 educators in traditional public, charter, and private schools across Collier County.

Golden Apple combines the sharing of high-impact practices within and among educators and schools, recognizing and celebrating the teaching profession and providing continued leadership development for teachers. High-impact teaching practices are comprised of engaging and innovative classroom strategies to support student success. This school year, 54 Teachers of Distinction, representing 53 Collier County Public Schools, shared their high-impact practices with Champions For Learning's community-based selection committee, comprised of committed volunteers. After careful consideration and discussion, the committee identified four educators to receive the coveted Golden Apple. 

Champions For Learning staff, board members, and selection committee volunteers were joined by representatives from Suncoast Credit Union, Visionary Sponsor of the Golden Apple Program, Publix Super Markets Charities, and Collier County Public Schools to present the Golden Apples. 

Congratulations to the following 2024-2025 Golden Apple recipients!

• Amarillys Berrios, Oakridge Middle School
• Gina Manville DeJager, Barron Collier High School
• Erin Powell, Vineyards Elementary School
• Sydney Whittaker, Lake Park Elementary School

Past and present Teachers of Distinction and Golden Apple awardees will be invited to participate in Champions For Learning’s Golden Apple Leadership Summit, hosted May 6-7, 2025. Educators who engage in professional development training not only grow more confident in their careers but also learn more effective teaching strategies, ultimately leading to improved student achievement in their classrooms and educators who grow to perform leadership roles within their schools. This year’s session will focus on instructional practices, as well as examining state and national engagement with AI in education.

“Collier County educators truly lay the groundwork for a vibrant and thriving community,” said Barbara Evans, President and CEO of Champions For Learning. “They do so much more than teach, they are role-models, counselors, and leaders, not only for their students but for each other and the school district. Challenges facing our educators directly impact our students and our entire community. That is why Champions For Learning remains steadfast in supporting Collier County educators through programs like Golden Apple, which not only honors the teaching profession, but ensures our educators achieve professional success.” 

At the 35th Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers, scheduled for April 26, 2025, at the Naples United Church of Christ, the community will celebrate Collier’s educators and their innovative high-impact practices that lead to definable and demonstrable student success. Champions For Learning will recognize this year’s Teachers of Distinction, the Collier County Public Schools Teachers of the Year, and formally announce the Golden Apple recipients. The award-show-style event is free and open to the community to celebrate our educators in support of our mission to serve as a catalyst for educational success by investing in Collier’s students and educators. Following the celebration, guests will enjoy champagne and a hors d’oeuvres reception to further honor our educators. 

Champions For Learning would like to extend its deepest appreciation to its Visionary Sponsor, Suncoast Credit Union; Achievement Sponsor, Moorings Park; Patron Sponsor, Publix Super Market Charities; Event Underwriters, Cummings & Lockwood LLC and Florida Gulf Coast University; Exclusive Magazine Sponsor, Naples Illustrated; and Exclusive Newspaper Sponsor, Naples Daily News. Thank you for being counted as advocates for Collier’s educators and the tremendous impact they have on our community.

Additional sponsorship opportunities are available for Golden Apple. If you would like to register to attend the Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers or learn more about sponsoring the program, please visit www.ChampionsForLearning.org/goldenapple.

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