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10 West Zone teachers among Golden Apple Finalists

By MEGHAN BRADBURY 9 min read

Six Cape Coral teachers and four North Fort Myers teachers have been named Golden Apple finalists as part of the 35th annual Golden Apple Teacher Recognition program.

There were a total of 30 Golden Apple finalists, which were personally interviewed and observed in their classrooms by the selection committee of the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools program. Out of this pool, there will be six teachers selected as Golden Apple Award Recipients who will be honored at the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Banquet on Friday, April 29, at Caloosa Sound Convention Center & Amphitheater.

They all have a love for what they do, teaching students and instilling that love of learning.

West Zone finalists are:

Danielle Fitzsimmons: Cape Elementary School

Danielle Fitzsimmons has taught in the School District of Lee County for the past six years.

"I have worked at Cape Elementary as a paraprofessional, a third grade teacher and this is my fourth year in kindergarten," she said. "Prior to Cape Elementary, I worked as a substitute in the district and as a VPK teacher before that. Kindergarten is where I have always wanted to be."

As a Golden Apple Finalist, it means that someone recognized her classroom as creative, loving and an inspirational place to be, she said.

"I am proud to work at a school that has strong administrative support and co-workers who truly work together to put students first and create the best learning atmosphere possible," Fitzsimmons said.

Leanne Olmstead: Ida S. Baker High School

Although Leanne Olmstead began teaching at Ida Baker High School in 2016, the same year she joined the district, her teaching career began in 2001. She primarily teaches ninth grade English Language Arts, but also teaches AP Seminar, grades 10 and 11, and AP Research, grades 11 and 12, giving her the opportunity to work with students in each grade level.

"Being a Golden Apple finalist is a very humbling, overwhelming, and exciting honor. To be recognized for something I've committed my life to doing is incredibly rewarding and satisfying," she said. "But I would be remiss if I didn't extend my gratitude to my students, colleagues, friends and family for making me the teacher I am today. Finally, I would like to thank the Foundation of Lee County for this wonderful opportunity and I look forward to sharing this experience with the other finalists."

Justine Shaul: Mariner Middle

Eight years ago, Justine Shaul began teaching in Lee County where she has had multiple roles as a kindergarten, first grade, third grade and now middle school reading teacher at Mariner Middle School for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students.

"This is my second year teaching reading at Mariner Middle School," she said. "I teach sixth through eighth grade intensive reading and am absolutely in love with creating an excitement for reading."

Shaul said being named a Golden Apple finalist is beyond what she ever anticipated for herself and is an honor within itself.

"I find so much joy in teaching and inspiring others, which is why I chose this career. To me, being recognized for what I find joy in isn't what being a Golden Apple finalist, or winner is about," she said. "To me, it's an opportunity to lead and inspire others to find the same joy in education that I have."

Francy Johnson: Island Coast High School

Francy Johnson joined the School District of Lee County two years, seven months ago, now celebrating 26 years of teaching. Sixteen of those years have been spent teaching in the United States, while the other 10 have been spent in Kuwait, Qatar and Russia.

"I moved to Florida in July 2019 and began teaching at Island Coast High School, where I still teach today," she said. She teaches Culinary Arts for freshmen through seniors, facilitating an Edgenuity course. "I am the advisor for the Global Ambassadors Service Club, my greatest passion."

Johnson said she is honored.

"It is a huge honor just to be nominated, becoming a finalist was a wonderful, unexpected surprise. Every year at graduation, I watch the students walk across the stage and hope that when they reflect on their journey, they are glad they passed through my classroom. Being a finalist tells me that somewhere along the way, I made a difference in someone's life; and that is the greatest honor a teacher can receive."

Stephanie Osterhouse: Skyline Elementary School

A teacher in the district for 14 years Stephanie Osterhouse began teaching at Skyline Elementary School three years ago, currently teaching first grade. She also has taught kindergarten and third grade.

"This is such an amazing opportunity! I am excited to be able to represent my school and educators in Lee County as a finalist. I am so proud of my students this year and I cannot wait to show everyone what they can do! I may be the 'finalist,' but this is as much their achievement as it is mine. I look forward to the experience and making connections with other educators that I may not have had the opportunity to meet otherwise I know it can be a stressful time, but I just want to take it all in and enjoy the ride," Osterhouse said.

Amy Bombace: Caloosa Middle School

Amy Bombace, a seventh grade life science teacher at Caloosa Middle School, has been teaching for three years.

"Being named a Golden Apple finalist means that I must be having an impact on my students, which makes me very proud and grateful to know I am giving back to my community," she said.

Alison Peeling: Bayshore Elementary School

Alison Peeling moved to Lee County six years ago and began teaching at Bayshore Elementary School. She previously taught in Palm Beach County for two years.

"I originally moved here and took a job at Bayshore in March of 2016 as maternity leave coverage for kindergarten and loved it so much I never left," she said of still teaching kindergarten.

Being named a Golden Apple finalist has left her feeling speechless.

"I feel there aren"t enough words that can be used to describe how excited I am to be named a Golden Apple Finalist," she said. "And to think about how someone thought I was worthy enough to be nominated is just so incredibly humbling. I just want to make my school and students proud. I wouldn't be the teacher I am today without any of them."

Taylor Ashby: North Fort Myers High School

Taylor Ashby began teaching in the district nine years ago. After graduating from the University of South Florida in 2013, he began teaching at Caloosa Middle School before transitioning to North Fort Myers High School in 2017, where he has remained.

"Teaching and coaching at North was and has always been a goal since I was a student myself at North," he said.

He followed in the footsteps of his grandmother, Ronalee "Chookie" Ashby, who taught at North in the '70s, and her husband, his grandfather, James, who taught and coached at North in the 1980s.

"Currently I teach 10th grade world history and ninth through 12th grade global studies.

For Ashby, being named a Golden Apple finalist is humbling, as it is the Heisman Trophy Award of Lee County educators.

"But it's also gratifying, knowing that you are making an impact on the students you reach on a daily basis. It's also a way for me to honor the teachers I've had that made an impact on my life, along with my honoring my family's roots and legacy," he said. "Coming from a family of teachers, I'm a third generation Lee County educator. My wife, Alex, is an educator (Trafalgar Middle), my sister Miranda (Patriot Elementary) and my mother, Ave, taught in the district for 30 years. To be put into the same conversation of past teachers I've had, and colleagues that have won in the past, is enough motivation to do my best and enjoy this process."

Brian Blauet: North Fort Myers

Academy for the Arts

Brian Blauet began teaching in the district 12 years ago, the last two at North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts. He teaches sixth grade earth and space science, eighth grade physical science and eighth grade global perspectives.

For Blauet, being a Golden Apple finalist is an honor.

"I look forward to the process of final selection and hope I can be someone who represents all the amazing teachers in Lee County," he said.

Kaleigh Stewart: North Fort Myers High School

Kaleigh Stewart began teaching at North Fort Myers High School five years ago where she has taught ninth and 10th grade English, both Pre-AICE and on level classes. She has taught for nine years total.

After two incredibly trying years in the classroom, Stewart said being named a Golden Apple finalist is truly the bright spot she and her students needed.

"It is no secret that teaching has been made exponentially more difficult by this pandemic, but the Golden Apple process gives the students in my class something exciting to work towards together," she said. "I cannot express the joy that brings me! I truly love what I do and am pumped to show the selection committee and Lee County that despite what may be going on in our world, we know how to have a good time in English class!"

Other Golden Apple finalists include:

* Mary Leigh Harris - Bonita Springs High, Principal Jeffrey Estes

* Lindsey Dwyer - Colonial Elementary, Principal Eric Washington

* Shelby Massaro - Cypress Lake Middle, Principal Matthew Miller

* Phillip Savage - Dunbar High, Principal Carl Burnside

* Ryan Arciero - Fort Myers High, Principal Robert Butz

* Steven McGinley - Harns Marsh Middle, Principal Alex Dworzanski

* Christina Cerwinsky - Heights Elementary, Principal Douglas Palow

* Amanda Rasnake - Heights Elementary, Principal Douglas Palow

* Evalea Barrett - Lehigh Senior High, Principal Jackie Corey

* Colleen Herman - Oak Hammock Middle, Principal Jennifer McMillan Barnes

* Kaisha Louis - Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle, Principal Trent Eckhardt

* Paul Chilson - Pinewoods Elementary, Principal Leslie Gunderson

* Danielle Morin - Rayma C. Page Elementary, Principal Valerie Sheckler

* Dana Windey - Riverdale High, Principal Scott Cook

* Caitlin Marzec - San Carlos Park Elementary, Principal Christy Kutz

* Kevin Schell - South Fort Myers High, Principal Edward Mathews

* Brittany Gonzalez - Tortuga Preserve Elementary, Principal Jennifer Shonak

* Suzanne Garrett - Veterans Park Academy for the Arts, Principal Edwin Carter

* Susan Bruni - Villas Elementary, Principal Shane Musich

* Brittany Griner - Villas Elementary, Principal Shane Musich

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