Golden Apple Award Winners Honored

 The Chamber’s 21^st annual Golden Apple Awards went to these five top local teachers:

Rebecca J. Creech
Harrison High School
Chemistry, Biology

From the first day of school, when Harrison High School chemistry students use food coloring and soap to investigate the properties of milk, they know they will learn chemistry by doing chemistry in Rebecca Creech’s classroom. By the second semester, they’re using instruments to analyze crime scene evidence and creating a video to report the success of their investigations.

Those make her “one of the most impressive classroom teachers I have ever witnessed,” a colleague says. “She has the ability to make every lesson something exciting and meaningful for her students.” And along with it, “she brings an expectation for excellence.”

A student notes, “Mrs. Creech personally makes sure that every single one of her students fully understands each concept and how it ties into everything else.”

That’s the goal, Creech says. “I love seeing the light turn on in my students’ minds as they discover a concept and realize success.”

Creech completed her higher education at Purdue University, earning a bachelor’s in biology and chemistry and a master’s in science education. She’s been teaching 10 years, eight of them at Harrison .

She’s a frequent presenter at conferences, including the Indiana High School Summit, Biennial Conference on Chemical Education and Hoosier Association of Science Teachers. And she’s been involved in numerous science education projects, including I-STEM Resource Network, Science Matters and BioScope Initiative.

Creech also helps with school athletics, previously serving as assistant, then head softball coach, as girls’ basketball scorekeeper and event supervisor. She was named Coach of the Year for the Hoosier Crossroads Conference in 2003.

Todd Golding
Jefferson High School
Russian, World History

Since 1996, Todd Golding has been opening doors to the world for Jefferson High School students. There, he teaches Russian, world history and advanced placement world history.

“I love showing kids what a fascinating place the world is,” Golding says. “Teaching is like a really good puzzle that you keep piecing together. Sometimes you feel you’re close to solving the puzzle, but just when you think you’ve got it, you see there’s more to do and you’re drawn in to work even harder.”

That he does, a fellow teacher says, noting that Golding “goes beyond the textbook” with student exchange programs and trips.

The best teachers, Golding believes, “are proud of their kids and encourage them to be proud of themselves; feel blessed to be with their students; know a lot, but know that they don’t know it all; and walk into the classroom thinking, ‘It’s a big, wonderful world, let’s explore and learn.’”

Both parents and students appreciate that approach. “Mr. Golding has made a difference by bringing the world to our halls and those same people to our hearts,” a parent says. A student salutes his contributions by saying, “Mr. Golding’s sense of international sympathy and awareness provides students with real experience, the truest kind of education that they can find from no other source.”

Golding holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Indiana University and the University of Iowa and a teacher’s certificate from Moscow University. A previous Golden Apple finalist, he also was chosen to participate in an Indiana University East Asian Studies Center China Study Tour.

Stephen C. Ohlhaut
West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School
French, World Language Exploratory
World Language Department Chair

A dollhouse and a story bring difficult-to-master lessons home in Stephen Ohlhaut’s French class, a student reports. “Not only is this unique and amusing for everyone, it is effective. His work ethic is apparent in everything he does.”

A colleague sings similar praises. “He designs his classes to address everyone’s intelligences and motivations, to challenge students far beyond standards, and to keep all students engaged in a genuine learning community.”

Ohlhaut has been creating such lessons for 13 years, the last four at West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School. Another lesson involves scavenger hunts. “Students put their knowledge to practical application in these fast-paced activities which are a cross between The Amazing Race television program and a traditional scavenger hunt,” he says. “Students gather specific items, solve cryptogram puzzles, research historical figures and facts, and complete physical tasks—all in a race to finish first.”

Excellent teachers model focus, work ethic and seriousness of purpose, he believes. “Students are willing to work hard for teachers who themselves work hard.”

He serves as sponsor of the French Club, which each year prepares an authentic Réveillon, six-course holiday meal for students’ families. He also organizes and leads student travel groups to eastern and southern France .

Ohlhaut has also been coordinator of the Wabash Valley World Language Teachers, a professional development organization; sponsored the Boys’ Organization for Student Service; and presented workshops on French cuisine at the Indiana Foreign Language Teachers Association.

 He earned his bachelor’s in French teaching from Purdue University and master’s of education from Xavier University .

Aaron P. Smith
West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School
English, Debate, Debate Coach

Literature and issues come to life in Aaron Smith’s freshman English and debate classes at West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School. Reading A Separate Peace, students reenact the concluding trial. Learning that art imitates life, students sample the Scottsboro Trials of the 1930s, The Great Depression, Langston Hughes’ “Justice,” Japanese internment and modern equal housing laws.

 Every step of the way, Smith is “authentically engaging and lively,” a fellow teacher says.

 And he’s encouraging. “Mr. Smith has motivated his students to achieve goals that many would find lofty and unattainable,” says a student who nominated him for the award. “We are never graded on how many rounds we win or lose, but rather on how much we grow as speakers, researchers, philosophizers and respectful individuals.”

 Smith says his goal is to be organized, creative, persistent, a good communicator and kind. “A teacher should sincerely care about the well-being of every student—the student who always has the right answer and the kid who won’t answer, the academically gifted and the poor performer, the mannerly student and the child with a loud voice.”

 Smith earned his bachelor’s at Purdue University and master’s of education at Indiana Wesleyan University . He’s been teaching 14 years, the last five in West Lafayette .

 In 2007, he received the Speech, Debate and Theatre Association Outstanding Indiana Educator Award from the National Federal of High Schools, the latest of many awards.

He also coaches the West Lafayette Debate Team, and he’s been a volunteer at Lafayette Adult Resource Center and Central Catholic High School .

Denise Booher Walker
Southwestern Middle School
English, Communications

If the subject is related to words, it’s likely Denise Booher Walker has taught it in her 30-year career in education. From 6th, 7^th, 9^th, 10th, 11^th and 12^th grade English to forensics, composition, speech, beginning radio/television, yearbook, drama, theatre arts and communications, she’s led students to master many a subject.

Raised on a Montgomery County farm, Walker earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Indiana University and a K-12 gifted/talented endorsement at Purdue University . Her interest in teaching was nearly life-long, she says. “I fell in love with the idea of teaching in second grade. Teachers were always such big influences on me that I was always changing the subject I wanted to teach, but I never lost sight of the power of the profession.”

 A teacher can touch a life and change it forever, she believes. That prompts her to bring caring to the classroom every day.

 “While it is crucial that a teacher be involved in the students’ learning, it is paramount that he or she also be involved in their lives,” she says. “The content and curriculum in a classroom can be a springboard to help students find a talent, unlock a door or foresee a future. The teacher is a guide on the journey.”

 Outside the classroom, Walker continues her education commitments through Student Council and Spell Bowl and as spelling bee coordinator, talent show co-director and drama director of the school’s musical.

 She’s been named an Indiana Academic All-Stars Influential Educator and inducted in the Indiana Speech Coaches Hall of Fame, among numerous other awards.

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The Lafayette - West Lafayette Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce
is pleased to acknowledge the following sponsors of the 2008 Golden Apple Awards

Award Sponsors
Cook Biotech
Lilly Tippecanoe Laboratories
Purdue College of Education
School Datebooks
State Farm Insurance

Event Sponsors
Caterpillar
Lafayette Bank & Trust Company
Lafayette Life Insurance
State.Rep. Sheila Klinker Dist. 27
Tate & Lyle

Program Sponsor
The National Group

Table Sponsors
Stanley Steemer
Sylvan Learning Center
The Mitchell Agency
Mullen Towing & Recovery
Regions

Teacher’s Flowers and Balloons
McKinneys Flowers & Gifts 

The Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce
wish to thank the following for their invaluable assistance in making this event possible:

WLFI -TV 18
Best Western Plaza and Conference Center