Marshfield Chamber Foundation Holds 18th Annual Crystal Apple Awards

Thursday, May 6th, 2021 -- 12:00 PM

(WDLB) Two dozen of the area's top teachers were recognized last night, for their contributions to education.

According to WDLB, the Marshfield Chamber Foundation held its 18th annual Crystal Apple Awards banquet at Hotel Marshfield. 24 educators were honored as Teachers of Distinction, and four were given top honors as the 2021 Crystal Apple Award winners.

The Neillsville High School, which is new to the Crystal Apple program, celebrated its inaugural winner, Randi Stanley.  Stanley has 25 years of teaching experience, the last 23 teaching high school science in Neillsville.  She is a graduate of Winona State University, and earned her Master's Degree in Education from UW-La Crosse in 2006.

Another winner included Auburndale 5th grade teacher Mark Brost.  Brost earned his degree from UW-Platteville, and has taught at Auburndale Elementary for 32 years.

Also among this year's winners is the first teacher from St. Joseph's in Stratford to receive the award, Kristie Bangart.  Kristie teaches first and second grade, serves as the school's "Lead Teacher", runs the school's "Accelerated Reader" program, and this year is also serving as the Language Arts teacher for 5th, 6th and 7th grades. She has taught at St. Joseph's her entire 19-year career, and is a graduate of Viterbo University.

After claiming two of the four Crystal Apple awards a year ago, the Pittsville School District celebrated another winner this year.  She is first-grade teacher Jodi Moore of Pittsville Elementary.  Moore is in her 17th year of teaching, and her 6th in Pittsville. The Pittsville native has also taught in the McFarland, Wisconsin Rapids and Nekoosa School Districts. She is a graduate of UW-La Crosse.

The other Teachers of Distinction for 2021 include Taylor Varsho and Kathleen Mahoney of Marshfield High School, Danielle Wilke and Michele DeCandia from Marshfield Middle School, Ruth Fleischmann of Columbus Catholic High School, Jessica Colloton of O-L-P, and Lindsay Meyer of Immanuel Lutheran.

The list also includes Brooke Altman of Nasonville Elementary, Amber Kropidlowski and Brittney King of Grant Elementary, the late Kristine Schwalbach of Lincoln, DeAnn Steinwagner from Washington, Jena Walsh of Madison, Ann Pankratz and Jennifer Wilke of Spencer, Ryan Westaby of Granton, Amber Guldan of Auburndale, Julie Plautz and Brad Helsten of Greenwood, Daisy Werner of Neillsville, and Alyssa Anderson of Pittsville.

The Marshfield Chamber received a record 1,313 nominations for 347 different teachers. Qualifying nominees were placed on a ballot and teachers voted on their top candidate at each of the participating schools.

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