Since 1996
Past Golden Apple WinnersSee the hundreds of teachers recognized as recipients of the Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award since 1996. This diverse group of Golden Apple Fellows comes from every corner of the state and represent and every type of school and classroom.
2020 High School Teachers
Shantel Y. Dixon, English Teacher at Capital High School in Santa Fe
Hope Montoya-Encinias, Math Teacher at New Mexico Connections Academy in Santa Fe
Lesha Dawn Harenberg, Biology and Anatomy/Physiology Teacher at Eldorado High School in Albuquerque
Carman C Moon, English Teacher at Capital High School in Santa Fe
Richard M. Pitman, Biology Teacher at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe
Jeanie Stark, Special Education English Teacher at Del Norte High School In Albuquerque
David Ubinger, Math Teacher at Chaparral High School In Chaparral
2019 – Elementary School Teachers
Michael Anderson: Physical Education, Inez Elementary School in Albuquerque
Brittany Behenna Griffith, Nye Early Childhood Center in Santa Fe
Sharon Eanes, Double Eagle Elementary School in Albuquerque
Cynthia Gustamantes, McCoy Avenue Elementary in Aztec
Amy Lauer, Monte Vista Elementary School in Albuquerque
Roxanne Mitchell, Sandia Elementary School in Clovis
Stephanie Walstrom, Bandelier Elementary School in Albuquerque
2018 – Middle School Teachers
Cheryl Leung, Math teacher at Desert Ridge Middle School in Albuquerque Public Schools
Cindy Orthman, Reading and History teacher at Eagle Nest Middle School in Cimarron Public Schools
Christopher Ortiz, Science teacher at Ernie Pyle Middle School in Albuquerque Public Schools
Jessica Sanders, Science teacher at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell Independent Schools
Donna Schmidt, Band teacher at Desert Ridge Middle School in Albuquerque Public Schools
Chris Speck, Science teacher at Garfield STEM School in Albuquerque Public Schools
Gerald Tafoya, Math teacher at Cochiti Middle School in Bernalillo Public Schools
2017 – High School Teachers
Miskee Blatner: Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Eldorado High School in Albuquerque
Laura Carthy: Literature and Psychology teacher at Capital High School in Santa Fe
Travis Crawley: Government and Economics teacher at Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque
Allison Dunn: English Language Arts teacher at Eldorado High School in Albuquerque
Melody Hagaman: Computer Science teacher at Centennial High School in Las Cruces
Stephanie Jaquez: English Language Arts teacher at Farmington High School in Farmington
Mark Robinson: History teacher at St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque
2016 – Elementary School Teachers
Brenda Dominguez: 3rd grade teacher at Amy Biehl Community School in Santa Fe
Agapita Hopkins: Adapted Physical Education teacher at Chaparral Elementary and Painted Sky Elementary in Albuquerque
Viola Hoskie: 4th grade teacher at Tobe Turpen Elementary School in Gallup
Paula Jackson: Physical Education teacher at Monte Vista Elementary in Albuquerque
Patricia Martinez: 3rd-5th grade Special Education teacher at Kirtland Elementary in Albuquerque
Roni Rohr: Visual Arts teacher at El Dorado Community School in Santa Fe
Amanda Tapia: 4th and 5th grade teacher at Alice King Community Charter School in Albuquerque
2015 – Middle School Teachers
Albino Garcia III: Lakota, Native American Comm. Academy, Albuquerque
Randy Martin: History, Desert Ridge Middle School, Albuquerque
Doris Merzweiler: Adapted PE, Hayes/Wilson Middle Schools, Albuquerque
Cheryl L. Kerby: Science, Mountain View Middle School, Rio Rancho
Janene Mondragon: Math, Questa Junior High, San Luis
Alfredo Lujan: English, Monte del Sol Charter School, Santa Fe
Jana Rupp: Math, Bosque School, Albuquerque
2014 – High School Teachers
Kevin Cummins: English, Bosque School, Albuquerque
Jonathan Hagmaier: Theater, Del Norte High School, Albuquerque
Sherry Lober: Marketing, Albuquerque High School, Albuquerque
Eric Strauss: Marketing, Albuquerque High School, Albuquerque
Sean Thomas: Psychology, Philosophy, Eldorado High School, Albuquerque
Rachel Weihe: English, Del Norte High School, Albuquerque
Mario Vigil: Spanish, Pojoaque High School, Chimayo
2013 – Elementary School Teachers
Cristal Wilson: PreK Autistic, Mark Twain Elementary School, Albuquerque
Jeff Tuttle: Third-Fifth Inclusion, Monte Vista Elementary School, Albuquerque
Theresa Sandoval: Kindergarten, Dolores Gonzales Elementary School, Albuquerque
Ann-Marie McCollough: First grade, Manzano Day School, Albuquerque
Ulrike Kerstges: PE, Ventana Ranch and Tierra Antigua ES, Albuquerque
James Olivas: 6th Naaba, Ani Elementary School, Bloomfield
Terri Lindstrom: Math and Social Studies, 4,5,6, Tierra Amarilla Elementary, Tierra Amarilla
2012 – Middle School Teachers
Tammy Crespin: Art, Madison Middle School, Albuquerque
Lisa Todd: Math, Taylor Middle School, Elephant Butte
Paulo Oemig: Science, Zia Middle School, Las Cruces
Ray Rodriguez: Spec. Ed., Social Studies, Lincoln Middle School, Rio Rancho
Andrea Yarbrough: Science, Mountain View Middle School, Rio Rancho
Nathaniel Evans: Math, Science, Taos Municipal Charter School, Taos
Gretchen Rockenfield: Language Arts, Reading, Maxwell Municipal Schools, Ute Park
2011 – High School Teachers
JeanMarie Baca: Science, Volcano Vista High School, Albuquerque
David Bair: History, Bosque School, Albuquerque
Kristine Gracey: Health Education, La Cueva High School, Albuquerque
Barbara Pearlman: 9th Electives, Hot Springs High School, Hillsboro
Kim O’Byrne: Science, Mayfield High School, Las Cruces
Amy Simpson: English and Film, Almad’arte Charter High School, Las Cruces
Anthony Rodriguez: Math, Cibola High School, Albuquerque
2010 – Elementary School Teachers
Jennifer Chavez-Miller: 2nd, 3rd, 4th Mountain Mahogany Community School, Albuquerque
Becky Frick: Kindergarten, Hawthorne Elementary School, Albuquerque
LeAnn DeCoeur: 5th ET, Salazar Elementary School, Alcalde
Kelli Ann Moore: 3rd, Jefferson Elementary School, Lovington
Marea Smith: 1st, Steiner Elementary School, Portales
Steve Heil: Preschool – 5th art, Juan de Onate Elementary School, Santa Fe
Scott Carter: 5th, San Antonito Elementary School, Tijeras
2009 – Middle School Teachers
Brita Judd: Special Ed., Wilson Middle School, Albuquerque
Betsy Van Dyke: Band, Chorus Madison Middle School, Albuquerque
Christina Monaco, Language Arts Mountain View Middle School, Broomfield
Richard Walker: Social Studies, Estancia Middle School, Estancia
Crystal Gallegos: Language Arts, Coronado Mid/High School, Gallina
Laura Greer: Science, Houston Junior High School, Hobbs
Cindy Lee: Science, CC Snell Middle School, San Lorenzo
2008 – High School Teachers
Christine Beverly: English, Del Norte High School, Albuquerque
Christine Castillo: Adapted Physical Education, Manzano High School, Albuquerque
Sandy McMurray: History & Law, Eldorado High School, Albuquerque
Gail Ranshaw: Graphic Arts, Los Lunas High School, Albuquerque
Harry Nordgren: History, Hot Springs High School, Hillsboro
Janet Bruelhart: Science, Lovington High School, Hobbs
Franklin Smith: Music, Portales High School, Portales
2007 – Elementary School Teachers
Dennis Higgins: 2nd-5th, Bellehaven Elementary School, Albuquerque
Kelli Williams Page: 4th, Dennis Chavez Elementary School, Belen
Heather Erlandson: pre-k/kindergarden, Bloomfield Early Childhood Center, Bloomfield
Jodie Day: 2nd gifted, Sanger Elementary School, Hobbs
Pamela Powers: pre-k – 5th PE, Manzano Day School, Albuquerque
Cherie Love: 1st, Valley View Elementary School, Las Cruces
Polly Beckmon: 2nd/esl, Cesar Chavez Community School, Santa Fe
2006 – Middle School Teachers
Victor Chacón: Science and Math, Cleveland Middle School, Albuquerque
Don Oman: Math, Kennedy Middle School, Albuquerque
Jane Sutherland: Science and Art, Tularosa Middle School High, Tularosa
Suzie Doss: English, Houston Junior High School, Hobbs
Susie Tufts, English, Sierra Middle School, Las Cruces
Diana Barela: Physical Education, Roosevelt Middle School, Tijeras
Kim Lester: Science and Math, Bosque School, Albuquerque
2005 – High School Teachers
Linda Johnson: Art, Foothill High School, Albuquerque
Robin Jackson: English, Artesia High School, Artesia
Terry Wyrick: Monte del Sol Charter School
Meg Connors: Special Ed., Sandia High School, Bosque Farms
Rosemary Kirby: English, Oñate High School, Las Cruces
Maria Rieckenberg: English, Española Valley High School, Española
Patricia Rivera: Business Technology, Santa Fe High School, Santa Fe
2004 – Elementary School Teachers
Jose Apodaca: Bilingual Arts/Music, LongFellow Elementary School, Albuquerque
Barbara L. Grady: Preschool, Hodgin Elementary School, Albuquerque
Kathy Lou Jones: 2nd/3rd grades, Monte Vista Elementary School, Albuquerque
Clara Sandoval: Bilingual Arts, LongFellow Elementary School, Albuquerque
Ginger Masoner: 5th grade, Harrison Schmitt Elementary School, Buckhorn
Debra Moya: 1st grade, Juan de Onate Elementary School, Gallup
Kim Scroggin: 3rd Grade, Hermosa Elementary School, Artesia
Susan McIntosh: Kindergarten, Gonzales Elementary, Santa Fe
Denise M. Phillips: Special Ed., Springer Municipal Schools, Springer
2003 – Middle School Teachers
Carol Johansen: math,science, St. Mary’s School, Albuquerque
Linda J. Sanchez: Computers, LBJ Middle School, Albuquerque
Art Sheinberg: Orchestra, Washington Middle School, Albuquerque
Toni Silva-Dunbar: Special Ed/Lang Arts, Taylor Middle School, Albuquerque
Bettie-Anne Brantley: Lang Arts, Alta Vista Middle School, Carlsbad
Lisa Graham: Math, Science Melrose Schools, Floyd
Suzi Miller: Math, Alg. Roosevelt Middle School, Tijeras
2002 – High School Teachers
Kevin Blackstone: Biology, Alamogordo High School, Alamogordo
Susan Quintana: Wld Hist. Humanities, Pojoaque High School, Espanola
Toni Purrachio: English, Newcomb High School, Newcomb
Mike Selleck: Bld Trades, Career Enrichment Center, Albuquerque
Beverly Lynn Bell: Spec. Ed., Hist. Eng., Kirtland Central High School, Kirtland
Sam Nichols: Science, Hobbs High School, Hobbs
Margaret Harris: English, House Schools
2001 – Elementary School Teachers
Edna Alvarado: Kindergarten, La Mesa Elementary School, Albuquerque
Ron Hogue: 4th grade, Yarbro Elementary School, Lovington
Cynthia Schmidt: 4th grade, Washington Avenue Elementary School
Mary Shanks: 2nd grade, Capitan Elementary School, Capitan
Fannie Atcitty: 6th gr., English Mesa School, Shiprock
2000 – Middle School Teachers
Alex Scott: Lang Arts, Jackson Middle School, Albuquerque
Tito Rivera: Lang. Arts, Lit. Soc Studies, Chama Middle School, Albuquerque
William O’Keefe: Science, Thoreau Middle School, Thoreau
Patricia Dworsky: Math, Rio Rancho Mid High School, Rio Rancho
Debbe Goldberg: Soc. Stud., DeVargas Middle School, Santa Fe
1999 – High School Teachers
Martin Schmitz: History, Cibola High School, Albuquerque
Ellen Swain: English, Cimarron High School, Cimarron
Sandy Bell: Business, Farmington High School, Farmington
Nancy Sharma: English, Clovis High School, Clovis
Phyllis Wright: English, Las Cruces High School, Las Cruces
1998 – Elementary School Teachers
Cheryl Lynn Rome: 6th grade, Polk Middle School, Albuquerque
Debra Gurule: Kindergarten, Cuba Elementary School, Cuba
Shari Schmitt: Turquoise Trail Elementary School, Kirtland
Sumner Price: 4th grade, Legion Park Elementary School, Las Vegas
Bonnie Hopkins: Librarian, Mountain Elementary School
1997 – Middle School Teachers
Gaylia S. Wade: Lang. Arts, Lit. Soc Studies, Grant Middle School, Albuquerque
Janet Martin: Math, Eagle Nest Middle School, Angel Fire
Patti Olsen: Lang Arts, Memorial Middle School, Colorado Springs
Mina Dosher: English Desert Ridge Middle School, Albuquerque
Caroline Kline: History, Penasco Jr/Sr High School, Santa Fe
1996 – High School Teachers
Ron Briley: History Sandia Prep School, Albuquerque
Sherry Mangold: English, Eldorado High School, Albuquerque
Larry Torres: Foreign Languages, Taos High School, Arroyo Seco
Lorenzo Gonzales: Science, Cuba High School, Cuba
Mary Helen Kelty: Family/Consumer Science, Capital High School, Santa Fe