Honoring Dedication: Golden Apple Awards Shine Light on Exceptional Educators
By Rebecca Thistlethwaite for the North Wasco County School District Education Foundation:
The Dalles Ore., June 12, 2024 — For the fourth year in a row, the North Wasco County Education Foundation solicited nominations for their Golden Apple Awards. These awards recognize excellent teachers and other staff in the North Wasco County School District. The program was created to incentivize excellence and honor outstanding staff.
Nominations came in from fellow teachers, principals, parents, former and current students, and others for 69 different people working in all the schools. It was incredibly hard to pick the winners this year, as there were so many talented and hard-working staff nominated. All should be proud of their nominations.
All runner-up nominees received a coffee gift card and the winners were awarded a $500 check to spend as they please this summer.
The 2024 Golden Apple Award winners are:
Teacher Category
Photo of Janell Geary with Education Foundation Director Rebecca Thistlethwaite and board member Lucille Begay.
Janell Geary, 5th grade teacher at Colonel Wright Elementary School
Ms. Geary received a record 15 nominations, many from current or former students of hers. The fact that students took the time to fill out a nomination form for her speaks volumes about her connection with her students. Said one former student- “I think she deserves an award because she has unique ways of teaching and she has been teaching for 24 years. And she still talks with her past students. That means that she cares about her students and will always remember them. She is very fun and nice.” Another student had this to say “I picked Ms. Geary because she has helped me in a lot of things she has helped me achieved some of my goals and she is really funny. She helps us when we are at our lowest. She also has a really good way of teaching. She takes her time to help us so that’s why I picked Ms. Geary.”
Photo of all the Chenowith nominees with award winner Kirky Stutzman and Ed Foundation Director Rebecca Thistlethwaite.
Kirky Stutzman, 5th grade teacher at Chenowith Elementary School
Kirky Stutzman was our second teacher to be awarded a Golden Apple Award. Also a veteran teacher and currently leading a 5th-grade classroom with ease and compassion. A fellow staff person at Chenowith had this to say in her nomination- “Mrs. Stutzman is an incredible educator. She goes above and beyond to love and nurture her students every day. We often send students who have struggled to her classroom, because we know within weeks of feeling nurtured and cared for, they will begin to thrive socially and academically. Kirky’s heart and soul is in teaching. She treats her classroom as her family and the students truly feel the love and the high expectations of academic achievement. It has been an honor to work alongside Mrs. Stutzman for the last decade and see the difference she makes in student’s lives every single day. If you can find a Chenowith grad around the community, it is very likely that they will name Mrs. Stutzman as being a driving force for their amazing educational experience at Chenowith.”
Classified/Support Staff Category
All of the Dry Hollow nominees hold up the check for award winner Kristal Corey who was sadly out sick the day of the award ceremony.
Kristal Corey, Media Assistant at Dry Hollow Elementary School
The impact of Ms. Corey can be felt far and wide at Dry Hollow Elementary. Her title of Media Assistant doesn’t really do justice to the diversity of roles she plays at Dry Hollow. If there is an event, fundraiser, or other extracurricular activity, she is probably playing a key role. And of course, anything that involves books and reading. A fellow staff member had this to say about Kristal- “Kristal Corey stands as a beacon of love, hope, and kindness, tirelessly working to cultivate a nurturing and compassionate school community. While librarians often go unnoticed, Kristal’s impact resonates far and wide, touching the hearts and minds of students and staff alike.”
Administration/Principal/Other Category
Ed Foundation Director Rebecca Thistlethwaite and board member Lucille Begay stand with TDMS nominees who held up the check for award winner Ryan LaDouceur who was not present the day of the awards.
Ryan LaDouceur, Principal at The Dalles Middle School
Mr. LaDouceur, a native of The Dalles who came back to help the middle school, received an overwhelming 13 nominations. Most of them from fellow staff members who appreciated his leadership style. Said one of his nominators- “As a parent, educator, and community member, I can confidently say that Mr. Ladouceur stands as a beacon of kindness and leadership in the realm of education. His unwavering commitment to fostering a nurturing environment for both students and staff alike is nothing short of exceptional. From the moment you step onto the school grounds, you are greeted by an atmosphere of warmth and inclusivity, largely due to Mr. Ladouceur’s infectious positivity and genuine care for everyone under his guidance. His door is always open, figuratively and literally, welcoming students, parents, and faculty members to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas.
One of Mr. Ladouceur’s most admirable qualities is his ability to lead with empathy. He understands that every individual within the school community has unique needs and challenges, and he goes above and beyond to ensure that those needs are met with compassion and understanding. Whether it’s a struggling student in need of extra support or a teacher facing professional hurdles, Mr. Ladouceur is there every step of the way, offering encouragement, guidance, and a listening ear.”
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