All 5 Golden Apple Award winners are Purdue Education alumni
LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The county’s top teachers, recently named Golden Apple Award winners by the Greater Lafayette Commerce, aren’t only aiming for good students.
They hope their work helps shape good people.
One winner said her students leave a lasting impression on her heart. Another hopes her students are kind to others. Another still wants students to know they have a friend for life, long after they leave her classroom.
The Greater Lafayette Commerce recently announced this year’s Golden Apple Award winners, a recognition initiated in 1987 to acknowledge the most outstanding teachers in Tippecanoe County.
“The Golden Apple Award is a way by which the Greater Lafayette community shows its support for our educators from all the public and private schools in Lafayette, West Lafayette and Tippecanoe County, and the hard work they put into shaping our young minds for the future,” said Scott Walker, president & CEO of Greater Lafayette Commerce.
“On behalf of Greater Lafayette Commerce, we whole-heartedly congratulate this year’s winners for all they’ve done to make Tippecanoe County even greater.”
The five 2022 Golden Apple Winners are as follows:
Lisa Lane, a first-grade teacher at Hershey Elementary School
“I always tell parents at open house, ‘Once your child’s name is on my class list, they are forever in my heart, and I will always want to know how they’re doing.’”
Eileesh Leuck, a second-grade teacher from Mintonye Elementary School
“If they walk away knowing that I really care about them, and they have that love of learning,” she says, “then I feel like I’ve done what I was supposed to do.”
Denise Erickson, first-grade teacher at Battle Ground Elementary School
“I hope that they can take that with them,” she notes. “But another thing, too, is I hope they can take the kindness, and I hope they can take the high expectations with them.”
Claire Brown, kindergarten teacher at Mayflower Mill Elementary School
“When they’re in second grade, when they’re in fifth grade, when they’re a senior in high school – being able to be someone for them when they have questions or they need things,” she explains, “I want them to know that I’m their lifelong teacher and lifelong friend.”
Bill Laufman, a fourth-grade teacher at Battle Ground Elementary School,
“It seems like we put the text aside on many occasions,” speaking of his enjoyment of social studies. “I try and convince the students that these people who made history were no different than you. These are people that make these decisions, and they will be your decisions to make someday soon.”
According to the announcement, the 2022 winners were selected from over 150 nominees submitted by parents, faculty or administrators, as well as by present or past students.
To qualify for the awards, nominees must be non-administrative, fully licensed in Indiana and currently teaching in Tippecanoe County.
“We are thankful that Greater Lafayette Commerce sponsors the Golden Apple Awards to honor the outstanding educators in our community,” said TSC Superintendent Dr. Scott Hanback, in the announcement.
“The last two years have been extraordinarily challenging, yet our teachers have excelled. It is humbling and inspiring to see firsthand the care, expertise and passion they bring to our classrooms. Congratulations to the winners for all they do for our students and schools.”
Sponsors of he Golden Apple Awards include State Farm, Ivy Tech, Old National Bank, Purdue University College of Education, Tipmont REMC, Huth Thompson, Arconic, Defouw, Centier Bank, SDI Innovations, Antique Candle Co., IU Heath, EVonik, 21 Petals and Rec Room Recording.