The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools released its 30 finalists for the 36th Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program.

The program was created by the foundation to help enhance and enrich public education by recognizing and rewarding excellence in teaching, according to a press release. Over the past 36 years, 195 teachers in Lee County have received a Golden Apple.

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“The teaching profession is the most important profession I can think of. Teachers prepare our community’s greatest asset, our children, to become productive and positive members of our community,” said Marshall Bower, president and CEO of the foundation, in the release. “This fact alone demands that our business community and the community at large recognize them and thank them.”

The 30 finalists were chosen by the foundation’s Golden Apple Selection Committee, which is made up of community and business leaders.

“The Foundation’s Board of Directors understands that the cornerstone of a thriving economy is a good education. Teachers make that possible. After all this community has been through over the past several years with a pandemic and a hugely destructive hurricane, teachers, once again, have been our community heroes.” Bower said. “These 30 Golden Apple Finalists are representative of all our outstanding teachers in the School District of Lee County.”

Here are the finalists:

• Lindsey Maxwell, Bayshore Elementary
• Laura Jordan, Caloosa Elementary
• John Crayton, Caloosa Middle
• Ashley Koehler, Cape Coral High
• Danielle Fitzsimmons, Cape Elementary
• Lindsey Dwyer, Colonial Elementary
• Quinn Schnabel, Diplomat Middle
• Dr. Katherine Callard, Carrie D. Robinson Littleton
• Louis Lillard, East Lee County High
• Shirley Speruta, ESOL
• Tamara Hunter, Franklin Park Elementary
• Luis Fisher, Gateway High
• Monica Baker, Gulf Elementary
• Danielle Hopkins, Hancock Creek Elementary
• Samantha Hower, Harns Marsh Middle
• Allison Kerner, Harns Marsh Middle
• Sarah Jones, Ida S. Baker High
• Leanne Olmstead, Ida S. Baker High
• Susan Wischhusen, Ida S. Baker High
• Michelle Smith, Lehigh Senior High
• Benjamin Andersen, Lexington Middle
• Valerie Wieman Starling, Mariner High
• Kathy Rivadeneira, North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts
• Brittany Gardiner, Oak Hammock Middle
• Katheryn Stempel, Ray V. Pottorf Elementary
• Dr. Phyllis Verrone Lampman, Rayma C. Page Elementary
• Miranda Lavender, Sunshine Elementary
• Stephanie Yanik, The Sanibel School
• Joni Pelletier, Treeline Elementary
• Karen Whiteman, Varsity Lakes Middle

The finalists will be interviewed and observed in their classrooms by the committee, the release said. Six teachers will receive a Golden Apple award. They will be honored at the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Banquet, a black-tie affair held at Caloosa Sound Convention Center and Amphitheater on Friday, April 14.