The Crystal Apple Committee of the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the semi-finalists for this year’s Crystal Apple Teacher Recognition program. The Chamber’s Crystal Apple Committee is made up of representatives from the business community who look to honor outstanding teachers in Finney County for their exceptional efforts in education.
The 2021 semi-finalists are: Becky Alexander, Georgia Matthews Elementary School; Trista Bailey, Garden City High School; Dalana Billinger, Gertrude Walker Elementary School; Kim Freeland, Charles Stones Intermediate Center; Emily Hamlin, Garden City High School; Alice Hilt, Garden City High School; Bethany Howard – Jennie Barker Elementary School; Lisa Juel, Garden City Alternate Education Center; Belinda Rascon, Alta Brown Elementary School; Abigail VanTimmeran Martinez; Garden City High School; Tammy Wallace, Holcomb Elementary School, and Laura Walsh, Charles Stones Intermediate Center.
The Crystal Apple Committee will narrow the 12 semi-finalists down to six finalists following individual teacher interviews. The six finalists will then be observed by three additional Crystal Apple committee members in their classrooms at times unknown to each of the six teachers.
The top three of the six finalists will be named as the 2021 Crystal Apple Teachers of Finney County at a ceremony on Thursday, November 18, 2021. The Crystal Apple Teachers will receive an engraved crystal apple, $1,000 cash award and an iPad. The three finalists will be presented with a cash award of $250.