The 2024 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year Awards ceremony was held at the Vinton War
Memorial on April 17. Several teachers from Vinton area schools were winners and finalists. The
awards are presented by the Roanoke County Public Schools Education Foundation.
Apple Award winners were announced at a ceremony at the Vinton War Memorial on April 17.
Pictured left to right are Green Apple winner Bailey Divers (W.E. Cundiff), Red Apple winner
Rose Biggio (Oak Grove Elementary), Golden Apple winner Dr. Matt Neale (Hidden Valley
High School), Red Apple winner Erin Edmonds (Glenvar High School), and Red Apple winner
Tracy Addison (William Byrd Middle School). (photos by Debbie Adams)
The top award winner, receiving the Golden Apple Award, is Dr. Matt Neale who teaches
English and journalism at Hidden Valley High School. As the Golden Apple winner, Neale
becomes the Roanoke County Public Schools nominee for the 2025 Virginia Teacher of the Year
Award. He thanked the foundation for the honor, saying, “I love my job where everyday we can
make a difference in kids’ lives; every kid is just one adult away from having a good life.”
Bailey Divers from W.E. Cundiff Elementary is this year’s Green Apple winner. This award is
given to an outstanding teacher with three years or less of experience.
Red Apple winners are Rose Biggio at the elementary school level (Special Education teacher at
Oak Grove Elementary), Tracy Addison at the middle school level (English teacher from
William Byrd Middle School), and Erin Edmonds at the high school level (English and
journalism teacher from Glenvar High School).
More than 120 teachers were nominated this year by students, parents, co-workers, and
administrators. Those nominated are invited to complete an application form and submit a video
of a classroom lesson. Judges then select the overall winners.
This year’s nominees were narrowed down to 24 finalists— 11 of those came from Vinton
area schools, five from William Byrd Middle School.
Middle School had five finalists in the 2024 Golden Apple Awards competition. Pictured left to
right are School Superintendent Dr. Ken Nicely, teacher Lyndsey Partsch, Vinton’s School Board
member Tim Greenway, teacher Tracy Addison, teacher Richard Hutchison, Assistant Principal
Katherine Hutchison, Principal Evan Noell, teacher Erin O’Donnell, and teacher Chris Roakes.
“Several Foundation Board members, including myself, served on the selection committee and
watched each video submitted by our finalists,” said Joseph Higginbotham, president of the
RCPS Foundation. “The selection process was very challenging, and the committee had a
difficult time selecting our final winner. We are extremely grateful to have so many outstanding
teachers in our schools.”
Finalists for the Green Apple Award included: Kristen Canipe (Cave Spring High School),
Kelley Connor (Mason’s Cove Elementary), Bailey Divers (W. E. Cundiff), Richard Hutchinson
(William Byrd Middle School), Bailey Price (Herman L. Horn), and Laura Schoonover (Burton
Center for Arts and Technology).
Finalists for the Red Apple Award (elementary level) were Rose Biggio (Oak Grove
Elementary), Jasmine Hayes (Burlington Elementary), Anne Jones (W. E. Cundiff), Laura
Muncey (Bonsack Elementary), and Annette Vest (Clearbrook Elementary).
Finalists for the Red Apple Award (middle school level) included: Tracy Addison (WBMS), Erin
O’Donnell (WBMS), Chad Parries (Hidden Valley Middle School), Lyndsey Partsch (WBMS),
Chris Roakes (WBMS), and Lauren Sprouse (Northside Middle).
Addison previously won the Green Apple Award in 2022.
Finalists for the Red Apple Award at the high school level were Christie Acker (William Byrd
High School), Elizabeth Chapman (BCAT), Erin Edmonds (Glenvar High School), Marc Hinkle
(WBHS), Matt Neale (Hidden Valley High School), Amy Leonard (Cave Spring High School),
and Chris Overfelt (BCAT).
The Golden Apple Awards are presented by the RCPS Education Foundation and sponsored by
Southern Team Auto. The Golden Apple winner receives $1,000 and use of a 2024 Subaru
Forester from Southern Team for a year. The Red and Green Apple winners receive $500. All
finalists receive $75.
The Roanoke County Education Foundation was created in 1991 as a non-profit to help young
people in RCPS to meet their personal and educational goals. They provide student scholarships
for graduating seniors, classroom grants for innovative teaching ideas, and financial support for
educational initiatives. The foundation began sponsoring the Apple Awards in 2001.
This year’s Golden Apple Awards ceremony was emceed by Chuck Lionberger, Director of
Community Relations for RCPS. Guest speakers included Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ken
Nicely and School Board Chair Brent Hudson, and Higginbotham, along with Mike Munsey
from Southern Team.
~Roanoke County Public Schools, Vinton Messenger staff report
