Office of Speaker Dennis M. O’Brien

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

139 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        CONTACT:  Jeanne H. Schmedlen

                                                                                                                                   717-705-1894

House Speaker presents Golden Apple Awards

for Education Innovation

HARRISBURG, June 12 – Speaker of the House Dennis M. O’Brien hosted the winners of the 2007 Speaker’s Golden Apple Awards for Education Innovation in a ceremony today at the Capitol to honor their achievement.

Now in its sophomore year, the program highlights successful and innovative programs in Pennsylvania’s public schools.  The awards are open to all Pennsylvania public elementary, middle and secondary schools, as well as area vocational-technical schools, charter schools and intermediate units.

“The program has been met with a spectacular response as evidenced by the overwhelming number of nominations this year,” said O’Brien.  “It’s clear that public schools greatly appreciate the opportunity to have successful programs recognized and rewarded and to share their best educational practices with other schools throughout the state and country.”

Anne Shannon, news anchor with WGAL-TV Channel 8, was the mistress of ceremonies.  Shannon anchors a weekly report entitled “Learning Matters” for WGAL.

O’Brien said, “It is an honor to have Anne [Shannon] returning as our emcee for the second year.” 

Six Golden Apple Awards were presented for the 2006-07 school year along with six honorable mention recipients.  The six categories recognized are:  administrative leadership, applied studies, arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics, and parental involvement.

This year’s Golden Apple award recipients are:

• Delaware County Intermediate Unit, Sharon Hill Early Childhood Center (Administrative Leadership);
• Lancaster County Career and Technology Center (Applied Studies);
• Wilson High School (Arts and Humanities, Berks County);
• Fawn Area Elementary School (Behavioral and Social Sciences, York County);
• Schaeffer Elementary School (Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Lancaster County); and,
• Jackson Miller Elementary School (Parental Involvement, Huntingdon County).

Also receiving recognition as honorable mention recipients were: Reading School District (Administrative Leadership, Berks County); Greater Johnstown High School (Applied Studies, Cambria County); Ligonier Valley Middle School (Arts and Humanities, Westmoreland County); Bedford Elementary School (Behavioral and Social Sciences, Bedford County); Central High School (Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Philadelphia); and, Ringgold School District (Parental Involvement, Washington County).

Review panels comprising professional educators and other experts in the category fields were responsible for reviewing and evaluating the submitted nominations and selecting the Golden Apple recipients.  The Speaker’s Golden Apple Advisory Committee includes other legislators, educators, business and community leaders.

“By recognizing what is successful in public schools through the Golden Apple Awards Program and sharing that information with other educational institutions, we strive to provide a better education and future for the precious children of Pennsylvania,” O’Brien said.

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