Teachers spend their professional hours helping their students achieve their goals – even beyond the classroom. The Golden Apple Award, back for a sixth year, provides an opportunity to show appreciation for that service.

Over its first five years, the Golden Apple Award recognized 46 Teachers of the Month and five Teachers of the Year.

Enterprise High School math teacher Jacqueline Lewis, in May, was named as the Golden Apple Teacher of the Year 2016-17 during a banquet at the Tommy Dulaney Center at Meridian Community College.

When asked what advice she had for teachers, Lewis said that the only thing to do is learn from one’s students, colleagues, and most importantly, mistakes.

The new academic year brings a fresh chance to nominate a teacher from East Mississippi and West Alabama for a Golden Apple Award, a program The Meridian Star Publisher Alexander Gould, said the Star is proud to be part of.

“It is important to bring out into the public light, the great work of these educators who shape the young minds of our future, on a daily basis,” Gould said.

Meridian Family of Stations owner Mike Reed said, the Meridian Family of Stations has a mission of paying it forward to the communities –  one of the reasons the Golden Apple Awards was initiated. “It’s a blessing to be able to recognize the important work our teachers and all educators do in helping our children grow up to be successful adults.

“It’s a blessing to be able to recognize the important work our teachers and all educators do in helping our children grow up to be successful adults,” Reed said. “We have been and continue to be truly amazed at the hundreds of nominations of wonderful teachers from Mississippi and Alabama. 

“We are so proud of this program and the business and community leaders who continue to support the Golden Apple Awards.”

Each monthly teacher who wins will receive a laptop and desktop computer to use as they choose. They can give it to a student or use it in the classroom. They will also receive a Teacher of the Month Certificate, $300 cash award, and $1,000 continuing education voucher for MSU-Meridian, and $1,250 in school supplies.

The 10 monthly winners will be invited to the Golden Apple Teacher of the Year banquet and that winner will again receive a custom made Teacher of the Year Trophy, $2,500 cash to be used at their discretion and a $2,500 scholarship to be awarded to a deserving student in the teacher’s name. The student chosen will also receive a new $1,500 laptop computer.

Bringing education to the forefront is important to improving the community, said Susan Ross, general manager and sales manager for the Meridian’s Family of Stations.

“Fostering education is one of the most important priorities for our community if you want to advance the growth of business and industry,” Ross said. “Companies looking for a place to locate or expand will always analyze a communities education systems, to help them determine if they will be able to hire and maintain a viable workforce.

“We must do everything possible to support, and encourage our educators because they are developing our future workforce.”

Meridian Community College is the title sponsor. Golden Apple Award Partners in Education key sponsors are The Meridian Star, The Meridian Family of Stations Bounce TV and Cozi TV of Meridian, EMEPA, Mississippi Power, Aotech Computers, Richard Schwartz, Citizens National Bank, Mississippi State University-Meridian, Avery Products, Woodstock Furniture. Participating sponsors are Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling and Labiche Jewelers.

Nominate an educator

Nominations for the monthly Golden Apple Award can be submitted by parents, faculty, or community members as well as past of present students. Candidates must be a current, full-time, faculty member in Pre-K through 12th grade (public or private) and working in the following counties: Lauderdale, Neshoba, Kemper Clarke, and Newton in Mississippi; and Choctaw and Sumter in Alabama.

The nomination process consists of an essay (no more than 500 words) detailing why the person should be considered for the award. Nomination details and an entry form are available online at www.goldenappleawards.com.