Teachers Honored During Golden Apple Gala
MARION COUNTY – Forest High School’s Jennifer Brown was named Marion County’s 2024 Teacher of the Year at the annual Golden Apple Gala recently in Ocala.
The event, now in its 34th year, was orchestrated by the Public Education Foundation of Marion County and was held inside the Reilly Arts Center.
Brown, who teaches Geometry, is a 21-year teaching veteran who’s been with Marion County Public Schools since 2015. The award was announced at the end of the Gala, after recognition of all the School Based Teachers of the Year and Rookies of the Year, as well as speeches from all five 2024 Golden Apple recipients and the Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Brown now advances to the state-level Florida Teacher of the Year Recognition program coordinated by the Florida Department of Education.
All six Marion County Golden Apple teachers were introduced by their students via individual video segments during the gala. In addition to Brown, they included:
- Rookie Teacher of the Year Carlie Schrimsher, Greenway Elementary
- Timothy Mathews, Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks
- Alysia Hoekstra, Maplewood Elementary
- Miranda Brogan, North Marion High
- Stephanie Prisciandaro, Osceola Middle
Jenkins Auto Group provided Brown with keys to a new 2024 Subaru Outback and a free three-year lease. The local car dealer has been the presenting sponsor for the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program for more than a decade.
For additional information, contact Meghan Magamoll, the executive director of the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, at 352.671.4167 or visit www.pefmc.org and www.fldoe.org/teaching/recognition/.