St. James band director finishes teaching career with Golden Apple Award Karen Lahti, right, conducts students as they play music Wednesday, May 12, 2021, in St. James, Minn. Lahti was awarded the Golden Apple Award Wednesday and will be retiring at the conclusion of the current school year. She is currently the band director at St. James Public Schools and has taught music for a total of 33 years. (Source: Marissa Voss) By Marissa Voss | May 12, 2021 at 6:07 PM CDT - Updated May 12 at 8:32 PM
ST. JAMES, Minn. (KEYC) â Thirty-three years of teaching the musically inclined with a soft voice and heart is how this monthâs Golden Apple Award winner is described.
Mount Olive educator wins Golden Apple award
Steven Beilke is a fifth grade teacher at Mount Olive Lutheran School in Mankato who has been teaching for 43 years
Mount Olive educator wins Golden Apple award By Marissa Voss | April 28, 2021 at 4:25 PM CDT - Updated April 28 at 7:06 PM
MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) â For 43 years, Steven Beilke has brought his great sense of humor and admirable drive to his classroom, which is one of the many reasons why this fifth-grade teacher is this monthâs Golden Apple award recipient.
Beilke has been a mentor and a guide for students for more than four decades, which is only demonstrated by the way his students look up to him.
Blue Earth Area Middle School science teacher goes above and beyond
Brian Kokos is this month’s Golden Apple winner
Blue Earth Area Middle School science teacher goes above and beyond By Jared Dean | April 14, 2021 at 5:39 PM CDT - Updated April 14 at 8:32 PM
BLUE EARTH, Minn. (KEYC) Teaching middle school science through the pandemic has proven to be a lot, but Brian Kokos has taken extra steps to go above and beyond.
“A teacher who is always available giving his time for kids whether that is before school, after school, during his lunch and prep time,” Blue Earth Area Middle School principal Dave Dressler said.
Sibling educators set Madelia Elementary School students up for success
Sara Loewen and Gary Sandmeyer are this monthâs Golden Apple award recipients
Sibling educators set Madelia Elementary School up for success By Marissa Voss | March 10, 2021 at 9:12 PM CST - Updated March 10 at 10:02 PM
MADELIA, Minn. (KEYC) â Nineteen years of teaching side by side, doing what they love together.
That is the story of brother and sister duo Sara Loewen and Gary Sandmeyer.
âThe first year we were teaching here, we actually split a classroom. We did,â Sandmeyer said.
The two teach at Madelia Elementary School, where Loewen educates first-graders while Sandmeyer teaches fifth and sixth-grade math. They both say they love every second of it.
Franklin Elementary School educator awarded Golden Apple
Franklin Elementary School educator awarded Golden Apple By Meghan Grey | February 23, 2021 at 11:55 AM CST - Updated February 24 at 7:29 PM
MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) Her special adoration for students, 30 years of teaching experience and incredible adaptability over this past year are just some of the reasons why Dianne Johns, of Franklin Elementary School, was nominated for the Golden Apple award.
“She cares about us and wants to always have fun,” said Keegan Beckendorf, a student.
Johns has served as a gym teacher for 30 years, but during the pandemic, she has been reassigned to teach fifth-grade homeroom.