7 win Golden Apple award

Seven New Mexico elementary school teachers have received this year’s Golden Apple award, which is given each year to excellent teachers around the state.

Four recipients are from Albuquerque Public Schools. They are:

♦ Ulrike Kerstges, who teaches physical education at Ventana Ranch and Tierra Antigua elementary schools;

♦ Theresa Sandoval, who teaches kindergarten at Dolores Gonzales Elementary;

♦ Jeff Tuttle, who teaches third through fifth grades at Monte Vista Elementary; and

♦ Cristal Dawn Wilson, who teaches pre-Kindergarten at Mark Twain Elementary.

Winners from non-APS schools are Ann-Marie McCollough, who teaches first grade at Manzano Day School in Albuquerque; Terri Lindstrom, who teaches fourth through sixth grade math and social studies at Tierra Amarilla Elementary in Tierra Amarilla; and James Olivas, who teaches sixth grade at Naaba Ani Elementary in Bloomfield.

The award rotates among levels, with this year’s focus on elementary teachers. Teachers are nominated by either their principal, other teachers, parents or students. This year, 144 teachers were nominated. They then filled out lengthy applications that were scored by past winners and other educators.