MISRYOUM reports on the 12th annual Crystal Apple Awards, honoring five standout pre-K–12 educators ahead of Teacher Appreciation Week—plus a list of finalists recognized for classroom impact.
GREENVILLE, Wis., April 21, 2026 — Five educators across the U.S. are being celebrated as the 2026 Crystal Apple Award winners from School Specialty, with recognition arriving just ahead of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4–8).
The announcement matters because it spotlights something schools rarely have time to pause for: visible. community-backed appreciation for daily teaching craft.. In the spirit of “who goes above and beyond. ” the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards focus on educators viewed by students. parents. administrators. and peers as leaders and innovators in their classrooms.
Crystal Apple Awards spotlight teacher impact
Each year, the program runs through a multi-step selection process, starting with nominations from across the education community.. From hundreds of entries. School Specialty identifies 16 finalists. then chooses five grand prize winners through a national public vote—so the final recognition reflects both nomination depth and broad community support.
For 2026, the five winners include Donald P.. Babiano (Tuscano Elementary School. Phoenix. AZ). Nyssa Grzyb (Joliet Central High School. Joliet. IL). Quintaries Upshaw (Workman Middle School. Pensacola. FL). Dana Harris (Bruning Elementary School. Wilmington. IL). and Erin Andrade (Center for Advanced Research & Technology High School. Clovis. CA).
The program’s awards are designed with classroom use in mind: each winner receives a personalized trophy plus a $500 School Specialty merchandise certificate for their classroom.. There is also a $250 certificate directed toward school-wide resources—an element that can amplify impact beyond a single teacher by supporting shared instructional needs.
Winners and finalists recognized ahead of Teacher Appreciation Week
Beyond the grand prize recipients, finalists are also acknowledged.. Finalists receive a $100 merchandise certificate for their own use and a matching $100 certificate for their respective schools.. That structure is significant because it recognizes that excellence often shows up as consistency: planning. relationship-building. and follow-through—work that can be harder to quantify than test scores but is central to student experience.
This year’s finalists include Meghan Schletty (North Shelby School. Shelby. NC). Sally O’Donnell (Forest Elementary. Forest. VA). Leah Shuck (West Allegheny High School. Imperial. PA). Jessica Ossen (A.I.. Prince Technical High School. Hartford. CT). Seretta Davis (Carver STEM Academy. Detroit. MI). Charles Fanning (Heritage High School. Maryville. TN). Dr.. Keavon Runnels (Stephen F.. Austin High School, Houston, TX), Katya Riley (Acceleration Academies, Las Vegas, NV), and Dona Esplund (Minneola Grade School, Minneola, KS).
From an editorial perspective. the geographic spread—from Phoenix and Clovis to Detroit. Houston. and Las Vegas—signals a broader trend in education: teacher recognition is moving away from a one-size-fits-all definition of “best teaching.” Instead. the emphasis on creativity. leadership. and classroom passion reflects the reality that schools need many kinds of expertise. whether the focus is early learning. career and technical pathways. STEM engagement. or student support.
Why awards like Crystal Apple matter now
While teacher awards can be easy to treat as ceremonial. MISRYOUM sees a more practical angle: recognition programs can strengthen retention by affirming what teachers already do. especially in a period where schools continue to navigate staffing pressures. learning recovery. and rising expectations.. When educators feel publicly seen, it can reinforce professional identity and reduce the sense that teaching is “invisible labor.”
There’s also a policy-adjacent implication.. As district leaders weigh how to attract and keep talent. non-monetary signals—community nomination. public voting. and school-level resource support—can complement broader strategies like mentorship. improved planning time. and professional learning pathways.
At the corporate level. School Specialty frames the Crystal Apple Awards as part of its wider mission to support learning environments and classroom resources.. The winners. in turn. become a window into what schools—and communities—value most: instructional imagination. sustained student encouragement. and the ability to build supportive learning spaces where students stay engaged.
Classroom support as an extension of recognition
For readers trying to understand how such awards translate on the ground. the most tangible piece is the merchandise certificate tied to the classroom.. While it is not a replacement for structural investments—like reduced class sizes or improved staffing—it can still matter for practical needs: materials that teachers can immediately put to work. or resources that support ongoing learning routines.
MISRYOUM also notes the dual focus on individual and school-wide benefit, with the additional certificate for shared resources.. That approach recognizes a basic truth of school life: teachers rarely operate alone.. Even the most effective instruction is supported by collaboration—planning with colleagues. aligning with school goals. and responding to student needs as a team.
A reminder of what “leadership” looks like in schools
Dr. Sue Ann Highland, National Education Strategist at School Specialty, said the organization is privileged to support educators who align with its mission of transforming student outcomes, and that awards like this give back to teachers who invest themselves every day in the classroom.
For students, those words can land differently than they do for adults. Awards may be announced on a calendar, but the lasting signal for a school community is usually simpler: someone noticed your teacher, noticed your work, and decided it deserves recognition.
To learn more about this year’s winners and finalists, visit SchoolSpecialty.com.
(Reporting for MISRYOUM Education News.)
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