Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 24, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Presents 2002 Golden Apple Awards to Educators

SEATTLE - Jan. 24, 2003 - Gov. Gary Locke presented the annual Golden Apple Awards to Washington state educators this evening at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle.

“Great teachers are the soul of an enlightened society,” Locke said. “We entrust in them the most precious thing we know in life - our children. I thank the teachers we honor tonight and the many more great teachers out there who quietly devote their lives to inspiring our children.”

KCTS-TV and PEMCO Insurance sponsor the awards. The goal is to recognize outstanding individuals and programs making a difference in Washington state public schools. Individual winners receive a Golden Apple statuette, $250 and a $1,500 grant to support work in their classroom, school or program. Winning programs receive $500.

A panel of judges representing the Alliance for Education, state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington state PTA, Seattle Urban League and others considered the nominations. More than 150 nominations were made this year. Six educators and four school programs were honored.

A list of the 2002 Golden Apple winners is attached.

Individuals

Sharon Bishop
High School Teacher, Naselle Youth Camp, Naselle
Sharon Bishop faces any number of challenges when teaching her students at the Naselle Youth Camp, a medium-security juvenile detention center. Depending on their sentences, her students may be there anywhere from weeks to years. In order to meet their individual needs, Sharon plans and develops new and innovative ways to teach, using alternative strategies and curriculum materials to make learning relevant and stimulating. Her enthusiasm and down-to-earth attitude encourage student independence and self-direction as her students earn high school credits, work towards a high-school diploma or complete the GED. At the same time, Sharon helps learners cope with their psychological needs and problems by knowing when to let minimal infractions remain minimal and treating the students with civility, consideration and respect. As a result, Sharon’s caring, humanism and emotional warmth are as important to her students’ growth and development as her effective instruction.



Brad Boudreau
Principal, Roosevelt Middle School, Port Angeles
How long would it take you to motivate an entire teaching staff to reinvent their practices from the ground up and reinvigorate them in the process? Brad Boudreau managed to do it in only one year. Brad arrived at Roosevelt to find a divisive, negative atmosphere mired in old beliefs about separating students based on “those who can and those who can’t.” He immediately launched into hundreds of hours of work, including interviews with top students, copious research into other successful middle schools and cross-country conference trips. After a staff retreat in August that left teachers energized, Brad charged a team of teachers with creating a new five-year plan for the school. As a result, Roosevelt will be moving from a traditional seven-period day to three smaller learning communities. Teachers will collaborate in teams using a rigorous curriculum, positive discipline and personalized relationships with their students. Brad has challenged every teacher to expect high performance from themselves as well as their students, and thousands of children will benefit from the results.

Joe Dockery
Multimedia Teacher, Mount Si High School, Snoqualmie
As familiarity with technology becomes a prerequisite for success in the workplace, students at Mount Si High School are getting an enormous jump-start on the world of high-tech production, thanks to Joe Dockery. Joe teaches a variety of technology-focused classes, from video production to Web site production to animation. By partnering with local businesses and non-profits, Joe’s students learn real-world applications for their skills, such as producing commercials and training tapes for local businesses, creating and managing Web sites and even running “Wildcat TV,” a morning announcement program where the kids are the newscasters. Joe can often be found at school games and events helping students videotape or take digital pictures, and his students regularly stay after school to perfect their projects. In addition, Joe is spearheading the school’s effort to develop a Web-based portfolio system that will allow students to track and record their progress, meaning that every student at Mount Si High School will soon benefit even more from his professionalism and dedication.

Rebecca Lloyd
Drama and Stagecraft Teacher, Kentwood High School, Kent
When Rebecca Lloyd’s students speak about her, their passion, joy and gratitude are self-evident. In her four years at Kentwood High School, Rebecca has worked tirelessly to build the reputation of the school’s drama department as one known for delivering professional-level theater experiences. By creating a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere and using activities that break down the walls that separate students, she encourages her actors to find the courage and talent to do their best. Her stagecraft students learn the particulars of set construction, lighting and sound design, as well as the budgeting and business of putting on a production. Four years ago, Rebecca also created the Kent Community Players, a summer theater where people both in and out of school can participate. Many patrons have said that their productions are the same caliber as the professional shows in Seattle and even New York. Whether in musicals, Shakespeare or modern dramas, Rebecca stretches her students beyond what many thought possible.




Becky Marks
Second-Grade Teachers, Totem Falls Elementary School, Snohomish
Singing, dancing, poetry, art, acting, storytelling - anything and everything goes in Becky Marks’ classroom. In her 26 years of teaching, Becky has become an expert at pinpointing her students’ different learning styles and then creating diverse activities to ensure that their particular needs are met. Her innovative phonics program uses a hands-on approach that involves singing, hand motions, memory aids and even team contests. Becky also teaches the importance of good social interaction by encouraging students to work together and helping them to identify and resolve conflicts. She ties each lesson to a real-life situation, and isn’t afraid to talk about the bigger issues, such as current events from the newspaper and her students’ different ethnic backgrounds. Visitors often come from other classrooms, schools and school districts to observe her classes, and she teaches her approaches to other professionals in her spare time. As a result of her creativity, her devotion and her infectious sense of fun, Becky has earned the gratitude and respect of many a parent whose child can’t wait to go to school.

Christopher Robert
Kindergarten and First-Grade Teacher, Madrona K-8 School, Seattle
Christopher Robert’s predominantly African-American students face challenges in life that many of their peers never experience. More than 70% of his students qualify for the free or reduced lunch program, and a number of them are homeless. As such, Christopher is a role model and, in some cases, a source of much-needed stability in their lives. Christopher shares his personal experiences, takes students on trips outside the classroom, and carefully chooses his reading and writing selections so that his students get a sense of hope and opportunity that awaits them in the larger world. By incorporating classroom materials from other cultures, both within the United States and around the world, Christopher expands the children’s horizons and helps them to understand that they live in a complex and interconnected society. He sets achievable and measurable goals for each child that inspire them to work hard and continuously. His energy, kindness and creativity make learning fun, even for the most challenged student.


Programs

GEAR UP
Pasco
For many students, especially those from low-income, ethnic minority or first-generation families, the gap between the K-12 system and higher education can seem almost insurmountable. In order to help bridge that gap, Columbia Basin College, the Pasco School District, Washington State University and a variety of local businesses and organizations have come together to create GEAR UP, a partnership to make higher education a realistic option for all. Beginning in the seventh grade, every student in the district begins a portfolio that includes interests, abilities, goals, aspirations and accomplishments. Students participate in activities that give them an eye toward their academic future, such as regular visits to college campuses and institutes where they have the opportunity to meet with college faculty, staff and students. They also gain information about career opportunities through regular “power lunches” with local professionals. In this way, a small group of dedicated people is making a real difference in the lives of many students.


Hilltop Artists in Residence
Tacoma
Begun in 1994, the Hilltop Artists in Residence program serves some of Tacoma’s most at-risk youth: those who have not been successful in traditional schools, are involved in high-risk or illegal activities or are court-connected. With the advocacy of world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly and the support of the Tacoma Public Schools, Hilltop Artists entices students ages 12 to 20 into the program through the physically demanding art of glassblowing. The students produce glass pieces that are valued, commissioned and purchased locally, regionally and nationally, and gain the respect of their peers through the challenge of shaping 2400º molten glass into beautiful works of art. The program offers arts and academic instruction during the school day, after school and during the summer, times when there are few resources that provide a positive alternative to the streets. Through the efforts of the program’s dedicated staff members, these students are given community recognition and acknowledgement, not for their problems, but for their achievements.

Student Biotechnology Expo, Washington Biotechnology Foundation
Seattle
The Washington Biotechnology Foundation’s Student Biotechnology Expo is not your traditional science fair. Each of the approximately 250 participating students from seven Seattle schools chooses a topic related to bioscience, such as detection and treatment of genetic disorders, the role of agricultural biotechnology, the bioethical impacts of new technology and the research and development of biopharmaceuticals. Then, students are matched with mentors from local businesses and scientific institutions who provide resources, job shadows, internships and support. Along with the traditional research format, students are encouraged to present their projects using such diverse formats as fine arts, 3D molecular model building, drama, writing, Web site design, teaching, career exploration and investigation of local businesses. Scientists, artists and professional writers then judge the projects. By engaging students in new, creative ways that value their individual strengths and talents, the Expo is helping to strengthen both future scientists and Seattle’s biotechnology community.

Student Leadership Program
Sunnyside
Because of challenges such as mobility, language differences and low income, over 50% of migrant students in the U.S. do not complete high school. The Secondary Education for Migrant Youth Student Leadership Program is changing that statistic for students in Washington state. With help from a statewide corps of trained volunteers, the program organizes regional conferences where students learn to develop action plans for their own education. Local community members act as facilitators and chaperones, leading the students through activities to recognize their own skills, set goals and solve problems. The curriculum is bilingual in English and Spanish, and takes the students’ different cultures into account. Students return to their classrooms and communities with a new confidence and commitment to learning and achievement, and receive follow-up support such as an information base of role models, career and education opportunities available through the program’s Web site. Thanks to the program, more than 80 percent of the over 2,000 participating migrant students have graduated from high school.

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