Winners have been named in the first-ever Alexandria Council of PTAs (PTAC) Golden Apple Award. The Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) educators who have been recognized with this honor in 2021-22 are:
- Mount Vernon Community School (Mount Vernon) Fourth Grade Dual-Language Teacher Evan Dougherty.
- John Adams Elementary School (John Adams) Librarian Emily Godfrey.
- George Washington Middle School (GW) Sixth Grade History Teacher Gregory Ransom.
This Golden Apple Award was presented during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2-6, 2022. This PTAC honor shines a light on educators who embody excellence in family engagement and partnership with the PTA.
“We are so pleased to award PTAC’s inaugural “Golden Apple Award” to recognize ACPS educators who excel at family engagement by partnering with parents and caregivers to make every child’s potential a reality,” said Maureen McNulty, Alexandria PTAC president. “PTAC received so many incredible nominations that it was difficult to choose just three winners! We are truly fortunate to have so many ACPS educators who truly champion the critical home/school partnership.”
In selecting Dougherty, PTAC noted how he has earned the trust of the Mount Vernon community and devoted his energy over the past seven years to connecting with students and families, switching effortlessly between English and Spanish.
Godfrey was celebrated for building bridges between families and staff at John Adams. The school librarian is the first staff member to volunteer for every PTA function. She is credited with creating a fun run for literacy and organizing bilingual book drives.
Ransom’s ability to effortlessly engage with GW students and their families helped him earn a Golden Apple. Through his thoughtful emails, Mr. Ransom keeps families in the loop. And, as he builds a connection with his students, he also invites family members to engage in meaningful ways with their children.
Honorable Mentions: Nathalie Agnant, Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School; Jonathan Clay, Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology; Mary Davis, Douglas MacArthur Elementary School; Debbie Haiman, Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology; Emily O’Hara, GW; Caroline Kelly, Douglas MacArthur Elementary School; Mandisa Bryant Morris, Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School; Curtis Murray, Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School.