Nine East Zone teachers in Golden Apple competition
Nine teachers from the East Zone are among some 31 teachers in Lee County who found out last week that have been named finalists in the 2008-09 Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program.
Some 200 teachers were nominated for the coveted award and had filled out application forms. Teachers got the news during surprise visits to their classrooms at the end of last week.
Selection committee members will observe all 31 teachers while teaching between Jan. 21 and Feb. 26. There will be an extensive inte4rview process between Feb. 16-17 and they’ll be recognized for their expertise as teachers during the annual Golden Apple Dinner on April 3 at the Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers.
The 31 teachers have put in a total of 440 years in their profession. And the finalists’ years of teaching individually range from two years to 50 years.
Those from the East Zone included:
Eileen Cherbini, a counselor for seventh and eighth graders at Lehigh Acres Middle School.
Sara Gulnac, an advanced placement psychology and advanced placement world history teacher for seniors at Lehigh Senior High School.
April Ketron, a third grade teacher at River hall Elementary School.
Nancy Loughlin, a language arts teacher for 10th grade students.
Michelle Mell, a third grade teacher at Veterans Park Academy for the Arts.
Chryille McIntosh, a 10th grade English teacher at East Lee County High School.
Nancy Monyhan, a 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade teacher of drawing and painting and photography.
Patricia Schultz, a first grade teacher of music at River Hall Elementary School.
Tilisa Skerczak, a kindergarten teacher at Sunshine Elementary School.
The select committee following a second round of surprise classroom visits will announce six winners out of the 31 teachers. They will also be given special recognition at the banquet, which will be televised.
Other teachers selected were:
Carolyn Cofield, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle; Kristin Cohen, Allen Park Elementary; Katie Donohue, Trafalgar Middle; Richard Dunmire, ALC Central Middle; Allan Dyen-Shapiro, Island Cost High; Jennifer Einstein, Caloosa Elementary; Debra Graves, Tropic Isles Elementary; Catherine Griffin, Dunbar High.
Debra Hornick, Tice Elementary; Susan Ives, Lexington Middle; Morgan Kirk, Fort Myers High; Sandra Lantz; Edison Park Creative/ Expressive Arts; Charles Pease, Cape Coral High; Mercedes Pichard, Cypress lake High; Leisha Roy, Gulf Middle; Janet Sherlin, Cypress lake Middle; Deborah Suhrie, Trafalgar Elementary; Jennifer Tomlinson, Fort Myers High
Silvia Torres, Spring Creek Elementary; Phyllis Verrone, Skyline Elementary; Sandra Villela, Diplomat Middle; and Shelly Wilson, Trafalgar Elementary.