6 Florida Teachers Win Golden Apple Awards for Excellence

Imagine starting your Friday lesson plan and ending it as an award-winning teacher. That's exactly what happened to six Lee County educators who were surprised with the 2026 Golden Apple awards, honoring their excellence in teaching.

The Foundation for Lee County Schools loaded a charter bus before sunrise on March 6 and traveled across Southwest Florida. Their mission: surprise each winner at their school with the news that would make their year.

Joseph Giangreco, known as "Mr. G" to his students at Sanibel School, was teaching musical theater when the surprise arrived. His costumed students erupted in screams and jumps for their beloved choir and band teacher who has spent 11 years pouring his heart into music education.

Elizabeth O'Connor of Ray V. Pottorf Elementary School called winning the Golden Apple her "life's dream." Several of her own teachers had won the award, including the high school band director who inspired her to become a music educator herself.

Cameron Brooks brought 19 years of teaching experience to Tice Elementary School, including six years in Lee County. He credits his fourth-grade students entirely for his win, saying they've made teaching in Southwest Florida an amazing experience.

Darielle Callender couldn't hold back tears when she opened her kindergarten classroom door at Franklin Park Elementary School. Dozens of supporters wearing shirts with her name traveled from as far as Tampa to celebrate with her.

Two teachers from Diplomat Middle School also took home Golden Apples: Alisa Brown and Quinn Schnabel. The recognition highlights the school's commitment to educational excellence.

Why This Inspires

These teachers share a common thread beyond their awards. They see their classrooms as communities where students discover confidence, creativity, and belonging. Music teachers like Giangreco and O'Connor emphasized how the arts give students ways to express themselves that core subjects cannot, building leadership skills and emotional intelligence through melody and performance.

For teachers like Callender, the win represented more than personal achievement. She spoke of needing a village as much as children do, showing up daily as support for her students while her own community rallied around her success.

The Golden Apple Awards recognize teachers who demonstrate innovation and high-impact teaching practices. But the real impact shows in jumping students wearing costumes, friends driving hours to celebrate, and educators who still call winning their life's dream after years in the classroom.

These six teachers prove that excellence in education comes from showing up with passion every single day.