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The Golden Apple Awards program is a Warren County Public Schools staff recognition initiative.
The Warren County Public Schools district announces the January 2025 Golden Apple Awards winners with tremendous pride! Laura Thornbury from Warren Central High School, and Anna Horne and Curtis Willis from Jennings Creek Elementary School come highly recommended by their co-workers, supervisors and parent communities.
The Golden Apple Awards program is a Warren County Public Schools staff recognition initiative. The monthly awards are given to those who go above and beyond their job requirements, demonstrating a commitment to their job, district, students, and fellow employees.
The winners of the Golden Apple Awards receive a unique, handmade award created by glass artist William VanTassel. The program is made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, as well as Tim Kanaly and Gary Force Honda.
The Golden Apple Awards program is made possible by the support of the following corporate sponsors: Gary Force Honda, Rafferty's, Double Dogs, and Montana Grille.
Shane Baker was honored for his integration of digital tools in the classroom.
Newark, Del. (January 13, 2025) — Shane Baker, 4th-grade teacher at Jennings Creek Elementary,
has been named to the International Literacy Association’s (ILA) 2025 30 Under 30 list, which
highlights emerging leaders who are transforming literacy education and promoting equity in
classrooms, communities and beyond.
This global cohort features changemakers from 12 countries, all under the age of 30, who are driving
innovations and advocating for accessible, inclusive learning experiences. Baker, a 29-year-old from
Bowling Green, Kentucky, was honored for his integration of digital tools in the general classroom.
His use of green screens, robotics, and coding have advanced the literacy learning of his students in
meaningful ways. Baker believes students’ ability to analyze both written content and digital content
is crucial for critical thinking.
“Literacy is the goal, not the technology,” Baker says, emphasizing that digital tools can enhance,
not replace, quality teaching and learning in the classroom. He asserts that “students and teachers
should have opportunities to grow their digital literacy skills as we live in an increasingly tech-driven
world.”
“Literacy is more than a skill; it’s a pathway to opportunity, equity and empowerment,” said ILA
Executive Director Nicola Wedderburn. “The young leaders on our 2025 30 Under 30 list exemplify
this belief through their groundbreaking work. They are the advocates, educators and innovators
redefining what literacy means in an ever-changing world.”
“Our goal is to amplify their voices and support their efforts as they continue shaping the future of
literacy,” Wedderburn added. “Through this program, we hope to inspire collaboration, innovation,
and advocacy that transcends borders and creates lasting impact.”
Past 30 Under 30 honorees have included Patrick Harris, a humanities teacher in Michigan who
helped transform his middle school English department into a social justice–oriented humanities
program; Samantha Boateng, author and founder of Read 2 Lead in Ghana; Allister Chang, a civic
engagement pioneer and founder of Civic Suds in Washington, D.C.; and Shiza Shahid, cofounder
of the Malala Fund.
Profiles of the 2025 honorees are featured in the January/February/March 2025 issue of Literacy
Today, ILA’s member magazine. The issue, released today, offers insights into the honorees’
impactful contributions and visions for the future of literacy. To explore their stories, visit
literacyworldwide.org/30under30.
The Golden Apple Awards program is a Warren County Public Schools staff recognition initiative.
The Warren County Public Schools district announces the December 2024 Golden Apple Awards winners with tremendous pride! Jennifer Holt and Kaylee Posey from Natcher Elementary, Karin Holland from the Early Learning Academy, and Shawna Gilbert from Jennings Creek and Warren Elementary Schools come highly recommended by their co-workers, supervisors, and parent communities.
The Golden Apple Awards program is a Warren County Public Schools staff recognition initiative. The monthly awards are given to those who go above and beyond their job requirements, demonstrating a commitment to their job, district, students, and fellow employees.
The winners of the Golden Apple Awards receive a unique, handmade award created by glass artist William VanTassel. The program is made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, as well as Tim Kanaly and Gary Force Honda.
The Golden Apple Awards program is made possible by the support of the following corporate sponsors: Gary Force Honda, Rafferty's, Double Dogs, and Montana Grille.
Now in its sixth year, the recognition honors public high schools that excel at preparing students to enroll and succeed in college, as determined by available data in each state.
(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education announced that 31 Kentucky high schools, including Greenwood and South Warren High, have received the prestigious College Success Award from GreatSchools.org, the nation’s leading nonprofit school information site. Now in its sixth year, the recognition honors public high schools that excel at preparing students to enroll and succeed in college, as determined by available data in each state.
Kentucky’s recipients are among 1,436 winners in 19 states that have demonstrated successful track records of graduating students who enroll in two- or four-year colleges, are ready for college-level coursework and persist on to their second year. College readiness is crucial for high school students’ future success as companies still overwhelmingly hire candidates with a college degree.
“We want to provide vibrant learning experiences for all our students, which means we are ‘All In’ when it comes to making sure every student is equipped to succeed after high school,” said Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher. “For many, that means pursuing a postsecondary education. Our College Success Award-winning schools are models of excellence both within the Commonwealth and across the nation, underscoring our commitment to keeping students at the forefront of what we do each day.”
The College Success Award is possible because Kentucky is leading the nation in both collecting and transparently sharing information on how students perform after high school, which is valuable information for families, educators, and policymakers.
“We applaud Kentucky for prioritizing a high-quality public education that puts students on the path to bright futures,” said Jon Deane, CEO of GreatSchools. “It’s inspiring to see how entire school communities — students, teachers, and families — can work together in pursuit of a common goal: success for all. Congratulations to these 31 schools for receiving the College Success Award as proof of their hard work and dedication.”
The Golden Apple Awards program is a Warren County Public Schools staff recognition initiative.
The Warren County Public Schools district announces the November Golden Apple Awards winners with tremendous pride! Manesha Spear from South Warren Middle School, Amy Spears from South Warren High School, Deputy Jamie Luttrell from South Warren High School and Lisa Oberst from Rivendell come highly recommended by their co-workers, supervisors, and parent communities.
The Golden Apple Awards program is a Warren County Public Schools staff recognition initiative. The monthly awards are given to those who go above and beyond their job requirements, demonstrating a commitment to their job, district, students, and fellow employees.
The winners of the Golden Apple Awards receive a unique, handmade award created by glass artist William VanTassel. The program is made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, as well as Tim Kanaly and Gary Force Honda.
The Golden Apple Awards program is made possible by the support of the following corporate sponsors: Gary Force Honda, Rafferty's, Double Dogs, and Montana Grille.