52 Joplin educators nominated for 40th annual Golden Apple Awards, powered by Liberty
The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and Liberty are pleased to announce that nominations were received for 52 Joplin educators for the 2025 Golden Apple Awards!
For 40 years, the Golden Apple Awards have recognized excellence in the teaching profession and informed the public of exceptional quality of instruction in the Joplin community. The individuals listed below were nominated by students, parents, and peers in Joplin’s public and private schools.
Judging for each category will take place this month. All nominees and the individuals who nominated them will be recognized during a reception on Monday, May 5 at Missouri Southern State University’s Corley Auditorium. The awardees from each category will also be announced during the program.
The nominees are:
Kindergarten to Second Grade
Anne Compton
Irving Elementary School
Jonathan Gardner
Royal Heights Elementary School
Heather Housh
Soaring Heights Elementary School
Stephanie Lynch
Soaring Heights Elementary School
Sylvia Neal
Stapleton Elementary School
Kiley Siebenaler
Dover Hill Elementary School
Michele Silvey
New Heights Christian Academy
Kelsey Vene
Cecil Floyd Elementary School
Third to Fifth Grade
Mary Arnold
Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School
Deborah Brill
McKinley Elementary School
Jacci Connell
St. Mary’s Elementary School
Whitney Cummings
Jefferson Elementary School
Erin Geeding
McKinley Elementary School
Hannah Horn
Cecil Floyd Elementary School
Michelle Hunter
Soaring Heights Elementary School
Roxcee McCully
Soaring Heights Elementary School
Elise Murphy
Soaring Heights Elementary School
Amy Phillips
New Heights Christian Academy
Terryle Pullum
Soaring Heights Elementary School
Diane Schiermeyer
New Heights Christian Academy
Morgan Secrist
Kelsey Norman Elementary School
Debi Staton
St. Mary’s Elementary School
Jessica Vacca
Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School
Hannah Young
Stapleton Elementary
Sixth to Eighth Grade
Elise Ashworth
North Middle School
Rachel Bowyer
South Middle School
Brock Compton
East Middle School
Jason Cryer
North Middle School
Charles Curtis
Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School
Andrea Day
North Middle School
Caleb Durr
South Middle School
Nina English
East Middle School
Sam Erisman
South Middle School
Michelle Friskey
North Middle School
Michelle Hamlin
New Heights Christian Academy
Ann Landrum
New Heights Christian Academy
Angela Mense
East Middle School
Tyler Midyett
North Middle School
Marissa Mitchell
East Middle School
Linda Norwood
South Middle School
Daphne Payne
South Middle School
Nicole Peters
South Middle School
Katie Rattles
East Middle School
George Richardson
East Middle School
Katheleen Schrader
South Middle School
Jessica Sewing
East Middle School
Morgan Smith
South Middle School
Lara Stamper
East Middle School
Deborah Zellmer
South Middle School
Ninth to Twelfth Grade
Brad Douglas
Joplin High School
Janet Parker-Spain
Roi S. Wood