The Tacoma School Districts Family Involvement Center and Jay Wiley of Gig Harbor High School are among the winners of a prestigious award that is given to only 10 recipients in Washington state each year.
That award – the KCTS Golden Apple Award for excellence and innovation in education – was presented at ceremonies held in Seattle last month. On Jan. 23, approximately 350 people from across Washington – including Gov. Gary Locke and Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Terry Bergeson – gathered at Seattles Intiman Theatre to salute these leaders in education.
Sponsored by KCTS Television and funded by PEMCO Insurance, the 12th annual KCTS Golden Apple Awards honored seven individuals and three programs for their exceptional contributions to pre-K-12 education in 2003.
These education success stories are celebrated in the inspiring one-hour television special, The Golden Apple Awards 2003, airing Thursday, Feb. 26, at 8 p.m., on KCTS and other public television stations across the state.
The telecast combines highlights of the Jan. 23 awards ceremonies with short documentary-style segments that provide a close-up look at each of the award winners in action.
In addition to the two South Sound winners, the television special spotlights the following Golden Apple Award winners – individuals and programs:
– Jeffrey Charbonneau, science teacher, Zillah High School;
– Darice Johnson, teacher, African-American Academy (K-8), Seattle School District;
– Judy Kawabori, teacher of English, social studies and Japanese, Meadowdale Middle School, Edmonds School District;
– Diann Lavik, principal, Franklin Elementary, Port Angeles School District;
– Lisa Queen, first- and second-grade teacher, Hood Canal School, Hood Canal School District;
– Cascade Discovery Program, Cascade School District;
– Hanford High School-Middle School Drama Program, Richland School District;and
– Marja Brandon, head of school, Seattle Girls School (winner of the Stanley O. McNaughton Golden Apple Award).
The winners were selected from nominations submitted by students, parents, educators and community members from across the state, while a select panel chose the winners.
Individual winners receive $250; winning programs get $500. PEMCO Insurance awards each Golden Apple recipient a $1,500 grant to use to support work in their classroom, school or educational program.
KCTS established the Golden Apple Awards in 1992.
