(April 12, 2024—Naples, FL) On Sunday, April 7th, Champions For Learning hosted the 34th Annual Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers at Artis-Naples. During the event, the community recognized and honored this year’s Golden Apple Recipients, Teachers of Distinction, and Collier County Public Schools Teachers of the Year.
Earlier in the school year, 63 Teachers of Distinction (including 4 co-teacher teams), representing 59 Collier County Public Schools, shared their high impact practices with Champions For Learning’s community-based selection committee. After careful consideration and deliberation, the committee identified four educators and their high impact practices to highlight as the 2024 Golden Apple recipients.
Guests were treated to several musical performances throughout the celebration event. Students from Austin Gomez’ class at Laurel Oak Elementary School played with instruments that Mr. Gomez purchased after receiving a grant award through Champions For Learning’s Classroom Grant program, which provides educators with funding for supplies, classroom items and enrichment activities, projects or programs not included in the school’s budget. Additionally, the Oakridge Middle School Orchestra provided musical interludes as guests entered and exited the stage; and the Naples High School Jazz Band played for patrons during the post-program reception. “Champions For Learning is honored to provide our educators with the tools and resources to achieve success,” said Barbara Evans, President and CEO of Champions For Learning. “Their high impact practices not only enhance the learning experience for their classrooms and students, but also inspires collaborative learning between their colleagues. Truly, we have a community that shares our belief that education is everything – thank you to each and every person who joined us in honoring our educators at the Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers.”
A complete list of the 2024 Golden Apple recipients and Teachers of Distinction honored at the celebration event is attached.
As the Education Foundation of Collier County, Champions For Learning is committed to valuing, empowering, and supporting our educators to experience professional success. Honoring our educators’ high impact practices at the Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers event is only one facet of the work we do to support educators. Our Educator Programs, which comprise of both Golden Apple and the Classroom Grants programs, serve over 400 educators throughout the county. Additionally, we are preparing to launch the Golden Apple Leadership Academy this summer, which will provide the current Golden Apple recipients and Teachers of Distinction with professional development opportunities to further develop their classroom and leadership skills.
Champions For Learning would like to thank our sponsors for this year’s Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers, listed below, who partner with us to champion the efforts of Collier’s educators.
Visionary Sponsor: Suncoast Credit Union
Advocate Sponsors: Conditioned Air, Moorings Park
Patron Sponsors: Lipman Family Farms, Publix Super Market Charities
Event Underwriters: Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC; Lee Health, Seminole Casino Hotel
Exclusive Magazine Sponsor: Naples Illustrated
Newspaper Sponsor: Naples Daily News
About Champions For Learning™
Founded in 1990, the Education Foundation of Collier County – Champions For Learning mission is to serve as a catalyst for educational success by investing in Collier’s students and educators. Champions For Learning’s Student Programs are designed to equip and prepare students for their future learning and career goals. Champions For Learning’s Educator Programs are designed to value, empower, and support our educators to experience professional success. Recognized as the education foundation serving Collier County by the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, Champions For Learning serves as a unifying force within the community by driving collective action towards the common goal of student and educator success.
Champions For Learning is a volunteer driven organization. Of the nearly 500 people who volunteer with us each year, more than 240 dedicate two to four hours of their time to our organization every week. With dedicated volunteers and a committed administrative team, Champions For Learning embodies the belief that education is everything! To learn more, visit www.ChampionsForLearning.org.