On Friday April 17th, The Education Foundation of Collier County – Champions For Learning hosted the 36th annual Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, where over 300 members of the community gathered for a first-class community event to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary educators who shape Collier County’s future. This year’s honorees included the 58 Teachers of Distinction, five Collier County Public Schools’ Teachers of the Year, and six Golden Apple Recipients, each of whom exemplifies teaching excellence.
This year marks a return of cherished traditions for the Golden Apple Program. The Celebration of Teachers event was restored as an elegant dinner, with guests enjoying a reception in the courtyard, followed by dinner and a program that celebrated each honored educator.
Throughout the program, the six Golden Apple honorees were introduced to the audience by one of their current or former students, who highlighted the impact that their teacher has had on their lives. Each of the recipients shared remarks on what it means to them to receive this prestigious teaching award. These educators demonstrate creativity, dedication, and compassion through the meaningful learning experiences they create for students each day. Above all, they demonstrate what teaching is all about: shaping lives in meaningful and lasting ways.
“Educators often lack the resources, support, and recognition needed to sustain meaningful learning. Discouragement in the profession can quickly lead to burnout,” says Dr. Eric Williams, President and CEO and of Champions For Learning. “This is why teacher recognition through the Golden Apple Program is a fundamental element of recruiting and retaining excellent educators, who are not only the heart of student learning, but who play a vital role in building a strong, thriving community.”
The 2025-2026 Golden Apple honorees:
- Elias Cuevas, Immokalee High School Subject: United States History
- Grade: 11th
- Years Teaching: 4
- Best Practice: “Reconnecting Through Purposeful Roles”
- Connie Kinstler, Big Cypress Elementary School Subjects: All
- Grade: Kindergarten
- Years Teaching: 34
- Best Practice: “Games for Growth”
- Wende Malik, Vineyards Elementary School Subjects: Science & Social Studies
- Grades: K – 5th
- Years Teaching: 33
- Best Practice: “Wetlands Wonder Workshop”
- Shanna Moss, Manatee Middle School Subjects: Earth & Space Science
- Grade: 6th
- Years Teaching: 9
- Best Practice: “Empowered by High Expectations, Supports”
- Julie Raymond, Osceola Elementary School Subjects: All
- Grade: 4th
- Years Teaching: 44
- Best Practice: “Raymond’s Deep Sea Teaching Inspires!”
- Stephanie Scalise, Veterans Memorial Elementary School Subjects: All
- Grade: 3rd
- Years Teaching: 16
- Best Practice: “Blooming Beyond Barriers”
The appreciation of the Golden Apple Recipients will continue with the Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers television program, which will air on Saturday, May 23rd at 8pm on Gulf Coast NBC. This hour-long broadcast will feature behind-the-scenes interviews with our Golden Apple Recipients, allowing the public to witness the impact these educators have on our community.
Champions For Learning would like to extend our deepest appreciation to our Visionary Sponsor, Suncoast Credit Union; Achievement Sponsor, Moorings Park; Patron Sponsors, Lipman Family Farms and Publix Super Markets Charities; Event Underwriter, Owen-Ames-Kimball; Exclusive Magazine Sponsor, Naples Illustrated; Exclusive Newspaper Sponsor, Naples Daily News; and Venue Sponsor: Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa. Thank you for being counted as advocates for Collier’s educators and the tremendous impact they have on our community.