2026 Golden Apple Teachers Announced

2026 Golden Apple Teachers Named Along with School-Related Employee of the Year

Posted on 12/11/2025

DECEMBER 11, 2025 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC, Director of Public Relations

352.671.7734 w ◊ 352.840.3265 c

[email protected]

2026 GOLDEN APPLE TEACHERS NAMED

ALONG WITH SCHOOL-RELATED

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Marion County’s 2026 Teacher of the Year Finalists and

Rookie Teacher of the Year Revealed

MARION COUNTY – Six top teachers in Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) received Golden Apples during surprise classroom visits, with five now vying to be named Marion County’s 2026 Teacher of the Year.

The Public Education Foundation of Marion County orchestrates the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program annually. The Foundation also honors one new teacher as the Rookie Teacher of the Year and another worker as the District’s School-Related Employee of the Year.

An entourage including Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Danielle Brewer, Marion County School Board members, Foundation Executive Director Meghan Magamoll, and others, surprised all recipients yesterday and today in a caravan that travelled over 60 miles.

Golden Apple recipients and finalists for Marion County’s 2026 Teacher of the Year include:

Hillcrest School – Zanita Hendry started with MCPS in 2015 and teaches students in grades 6-12 with exceptional needs. She is a graduate of Dunnellon High School and holds a bachelor’s of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education and Social/Behavioral Science from the University of Central Florida. She was also the 2023 Florida Adaptive Arts Educator of the Year.

Maplewood Elementary – Phyllis Hodges has 29 years of experience with MCPS, having joined the District in 1996 as an elementary classroom teacher. She continues in that position today and is also a Content Area Specialist for math and science. Her bachelor’s degree in education comes from Florida Southern College.

North Marion Middle – William Lockley has 20 years of classroom experience, all teaching math to students at North Marion Middle. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo University, a master of science in Mathematics Education from Florida State University, and a doctorate of education in Educational Leadership from the University of Florida.

Vanguard High School - Adjahnae Piner joined MCPS in 2015 and coordinates and teaches in the Future Educators Academy at Vanguard. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in Psychology from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. She is also a current doctoral candidate at Andersonville Theological Seminary.

West Port High - Jamesha Gilliam is a West Port High graduate with 10 years of classroom experience. She joined MCPS in 2018 as an English/Journalism teacher at West Port after earning her bachelor of arts in Public Relations from the University of Florida.

While at Hillcrest School, this year’s entourage also surprised three-year teacher Stephanie Stephens by naming her Marion County’s 2026 Rookie Teacher of the Year. Stephens joined MCPS in 2024 and, like all rookie teachers, has no more than three years of classroom teaching experience. She holds a bachelor of science degree in Communications from Brigham Young University-Idaho.

The Foundation also handed out its School-Related Employee of the Year honor to Stephanie Bulla, a registered nurse serving 3,400 students at five schools from her base school, Anthony Elementary. She joined MCPS in 2022 and is the first school nurse considered for this honor. Bulla was nominated because, “She embodies what it means to serve others with heart and purpose. Even during the most challenging days, she brings positivity and grace to her work,” according to her nominator.

The five Golden Apple recipients, Rookie Teacher of the Year, and School-Related Employee of the Year will all participate in the Golden Apple Gala on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at 7 p.m. inside the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala. The event airs live on the MCPS YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/MarionCountyK12).

At the Gala, one of the five finalists will be named Marion County’s 2026 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year and drive away in a new, pre-paid, three-year leased 2026 Genesis G70 luxury compact sedan thanks to Jenkins Auto Group.

For more information, contact Executive Director Meghan Magamoll with the Public Education Foundation of Marion County at [email protected] or 352.671.4167.

PHOTOS:

Zanita Hendry, Hillcrest School