Five local teachers received Golden Apples during surprise classroom visits on Wednesday, placing them in the running for Marion County’s 2024 Teacher of the Year.
The Public Education Foundation of Marion County, which announces the Golden Apple teachers, also honored one teaching newcomer as the Rookie Teacher of the Year and another worker as the district’s School-Related Employee of the Year.
Starting at 8:15 a.m., an entourage that included Superintendent of Schools Dr. Diane Gullett, Marion County School Board members, Foundation Executive Director Meghan Magamoll, and others traveled a total of 93 miles to surprise the Golden Apple recipients.
This year’s Golden Apple teachers and finalists for Marion County’s 2024 Teacher of the Year include:
Jennifer Brown (Forest High School)
A 21-year classroom veteran, Jennifer Brown teaches Mathematics including Geometry at Forest High School. She joined MCPS in 2015 and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary/Middle Education and Mathematics from the University of Northern Iowa.
Timothy Mathews (Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks)
A drama teacher at Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks with a decade of experience, Timothy Mathews has spent the last three years with MCPS. He previously taught in Pasco and Pinellas Counties. His Bachelor of Arts in American Culture and Society is from Eckerd College while his master’s in Education comes from Concordia University-Portland.
Alysia Hoekstra (Maplewood Elementary School)
Alysia Hoekstra, a fourth grade-reading teacher at Maplewood Elementary School, has spent her entire 16-year teaching career with MCPS. She has been honored three times for her teaching – twice before as her school’s teacher of the year and once as its rookie teacher of the year. Her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication comes from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Miranda Brogan (North Marion High School)
North Marion High School teacher Miranda Brogan has spent all seven years of her teaching career with MCPS. She teaches 10th, 11th, and 12th graders in her school’s Cambridge AICE Program (Advanced International Certificate of Education), an accelerated program for dedicated learners. She earned her bachelor’s in History from the University of Florida.
Stephanie Prisciandaro (Osceola Middle School)
A 19-year classroom veteran, Stephanie Prisciandaro teaches Reading Competency and Spanish and leads new teachers at Osceola Middle School. Her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Education come from the University of Florida while her master’s in Educational Leadership is from Saint Leo University.
Marion County’s 2024 Rookie Teacher of the Year
On Wednesday, the entourage surprised Greenway Elementary School’s Carlie Schrimsher by naming her the 2024 Rookie Teacher of the Year.
A first-grade teacher, Schrimsher is in just her second year of teaching, and she is a Foundation Teacher-To-Be recipient. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the College of Central Florida.
Marion County’s 2024 School-Related Employee of the Year
MCPS also handed out its School-Related Employee of the Year honor to Edward Lanza, a retired U.S. Army veteran and paraprofessional at Saddlewood Elementary School.
The father of a 2021 MCPS Golden Apple teacher, Lanza was recognized for “exceeding every expectation every single time” when it comes to assisting his principal with extra tasks, staying late, and providing innovative solutions to improve his school’s day-to-day operations.
2024 Golden Apple Gala
The five Golden Apple recipients, Rookie Teacher of the Year, and the School Related Employee of the Year will participate in the Golden Apple Gala on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 7 p.m. at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala. The event will air live on the Marion Education Channel, and it will also be livestreamed on the MCPS YouTube channel.
At the Gala, one of the five finalists will be named Marion County’s 2024 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year, and they will drive away in a new, pre-paid, three-year leased vehicle from Jenkins Auto Group.
For more information, contact Executive Director Meghan Magamoll with the Public Education Foundation of Marion County via phone (352-671-4160) or email (Meghan.Magamoll@marion.k12.fl.us).