Three Outstanding Winning Teachers Represent Schools in N.C, Fla. and Penn.; Winners Receive $500 School Specialty Credit for Classroom, $250 Credit for School
CHICAGO, IL — June 21, 2022 — School Specialty, a leading provider of learning environments, supplies, and curriculum materials for the pre K-12 education marketplace, today announced three outstanding teachers have been named 2022 Crystal Apple award winners. Brittney Bell, Carmichaels Area School District, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth Walker, Davenport Elementary School, North Carolina; and Dawn Wolf, Coconut Creek Elementary School, Florida, each received a 2022 Crystal Apple prize package with a personalized trophy, $500 merchandise certificate for the teacher’s classroom and $250 merchandise certificate for the coordinating school.
Now in its eighth year, the School Specialty Crystal Apple Awards program invites educators and school communities to nominate deserving teachers who embody the key contest criteria of inspiration, leadership, and passion. Anyone can nominate a deserving teacher – a parent, student, peer, or administrator – by submitting a short video explaining why their nominee is deserving of the award and meets the criteria. The School Specialty judging committee reviews the nominations and scores against the criteria to narrow the field to 10 finalists. From there, voting opens to the public, and the top three nominees with the most votes are selected as winners. With thousands of votes cast, this year’s winning nominations were announced on Facebook Live last month, then honored within their schools and communities.
According to Senior Director – Brand & Account Marketing for School Specialty, Amy Veugeler, “We created this award to publicly acknowledge those outstanding teachers who work so hard each and every day to develop kind, passionate, and inquisitive learners.” She added, “It is truly an honor to officially congratulate all our winners, runners-up, and nominees. We are proud to offer a forum for educators to be recognized and rewarded for their talents and creativity.”
2022 Crystal Apple Winners
Brittney Bell, 5th Grade Teacher, Carmichaels Area School District, Pennsylvania
An inspiring teacher who engages her students with inventive ideas like transforming her classroom into creative, immersive environments. Once, she transformed her classroom into a construction site to illustrate deconstructing parts of speech. Another time, her students dressed like surgeons to perform parts of speech surgery.
“Everything that she does in the classroom is very purposeful,” said Marc Berry, principal at Carmichaels Area Elementary Center. “It’s super engaging because it’s non-traditional. It pulls in elements of collaboration, creativity, and it’s done in a way that makes the kids feel like it’s a fun activity.”
Bell plans to spend her award money on something her entire team of teachers can use and will plant an apple tree in her yard, per her students’ request.
Elizabeth Walker, 3rd Grade Teacher, Davenport Elementary School, North Carolina
Elizabeth encourages her 3rd graders to do their best and dream big. She touches lives and inspires others every day. In addition to teaching and volunteering at school, Walker also volunteers to tutor at a local homeless shelter.
“I am thrilled to represent Davenport in such a wonderful light because we are an amazing school,” said Walker.
Walker plans to use her winnings to host a Space Day along with her colleagues. As part of this lesson, she is working to secure VR headsets that will allow her students to experience what it is like to be on Apollo 11.
Dawn Wolf, 4th Grade Teacher, Coconut Creek Elementary School, Florida
From being the debate coach to the safety organizer of the SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) program, Dawn embodies what it means to go above and beyond as a teacher.
“This award is a great honor in such a hard field to work in right now,” said Wolf. Coming in every day and teaching the future is what it’s all about. My students – past and present – make me love what I do and I wouldn’t trade my career for anything.”
Using her winnings, Wolf said she would like to add more flexible seating in her room to help students avoid sitting in chairs all day. She’ll also have extra school supplies on hand for those who are in need.
2022 Crystal Apple runners-up include:
- Toni Fink, Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School
- Marian Lyons, Sallas Mahone Elementary
- Kevin Melrose, Northwest Middle School
- Tara Knop, Chester Grade School
- Bradley Marcy, LeRoy High School
- Jennifer Silva, St. Bede Catholic School
- Cathy Wood, Itasca ISD
About School Specialty
With a 60-year legacy, School Specialty is a leading provider of comprehensive learning environments for the pre K-12 education marketplace in the US and Canada. For more information, go to www.schoolspecialty.com.
