May 1, 2007 – Toledo, OH – Seven elementary school teachers and two high school teachers from across the Diocese of Toledo will receive the Golden Apple Award for devoting their time and talents to Catholic education. The Golden Apple Award was established by the Jack and Rhodora Donahue Family Foundation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has been expanded from the Diocese of Pittsburgh to include the Diocese of Youngstown and the Diocese of Toledo.

Each award winner will receive $5,000, a certificate of achievement, a Golden Apple keepsake decorated with a 24-karat gold cross, and a lapel pin. All of the winners will be honored at a banquet to be held on Monday, May 7 at the Toledo Club. The evening’s events will begin at 6 pm. Bishop Leonard P. Blair will present the awards to this year’s winners.

Twenty-eight teachers from across the diocese were nominated for this year’s award.  Teachers had to be nominated by a parent, a student or a fellow teacher. Each school was allowed one nominee whose application was sent to a selection committee at the diocesan schools’ office. This year’s winners include:

Sr. Joanne Boellner, RSM – St. Francis de Sales High School – Toledo – Sr. Joanne has been teaching since 1973 serving at Holy Angels in Sandusky, St. Catherine’s in Toledo, as principal of McAuley High School, Mercy College, and as a Math teacher at St. Francis de Sales High School since 2002. Sr. Joanne is a Red Cross Blood Donor, a child supervisor for Double ARC Parent Classes and on the Board of Trustees for Our Lady of Pines Retreat Center. Those who nominated Sr. Joanne describe her as a phenomenal teacher who motivates and encourages her students to excel beyond their expectations. Fr. Ron Olszewski, President of St. Francis de Sales says of Sr. Joanne, “her teaching, though, extends far beyond calculations, equations, numbers and theory. There can be no doubt that Sister Joanne’s interest is the education of the whole person.”

Vicky Busam – St. Peter – Huron – Mrs. Busam has taught in many positions in both Catholic and public schools since she began teaching in 1966. At St. Peter she has taught first, second, and fourth grades since 1984. Mrs. Busam is currently a first grade teacher and was nominated by a parent whose children have had Mrs. Busam as a teacher in past years.

Mrs. Busam is described as a spiritual leader who engages children, and adults alike to seek the truth of God. Fr. Jeffrey P. Sikorski, Pastor at St. Peter describes Mrs. Busam as, “an excellent teacher-minister who possess a great reservoir of experience and knowledge in the academic areas and, more importantly, in the passing on of our faith to our children.”

Jane Fox – Immaculate Conception – Bellevue – Mrs. Fox has been teaching at Immaculate Conception for the past twenty-six years and in the Bellevue area since 1976. Mrs. Fox currently teaches Kindergarten and was nominated by a current student and his mother, who was also a student of Mrs. Fox. This former student and now parent says of Mrs. Fox, “She was, and still is enthusiastic about teaching and makes learning exciting. The teachers at ICS are a contributing factor to the success I have had in my life and Mrs. Fox was the first role model in my school experience.” Mrs. Fox is a member of the National Catholic Educators Association, a volunteer for the Bellevue Society for the Arts, and currently serves as Secretary for the parish’s Pastoral Council.

Colleen Goehler – St. Patrick – Bryan – Mrs. Goehler has taught at St. Patrick Bryan and St. Mary’s school in Edgerton since 1983 in grades second through fourth. Outside the classroom Mrs. Goehler volunteers her time as a Guardian Ad Litem/ Home Investigator for the Williams County Court of Common Please working with children and families with custodial situations. Mrs. Goehler was nominated by several families of former and current students, as well as former students themselves, and fellow employees. Many commented on how in a time of need Mrs. Goehler stepped into the role of interim principal for the school while maintaining her role as a teacher. Mrs. Goehler is described as confident, caring, motivated, organized, thoughtful, and, as one person said, “Colleen is that teacher whose presence remains with her students throughout their lives

Kayleen Hoover – St. Joseph – Tiffin – Mrs. Hoover has been teaching kindergarten at St. Joseph for thirty-one years. Mrs. Hoover will retire at the end of this school, but will be fondly remembered by students, parents, faculty and staff. Nominated by two separate parents, and a fellow teacher, Mrs. Hoover is described by all as creating a welcoming, loving environment for her students. One parent commented, “It is not unusual to see a child wrapped in one of her loving arms as she listens to their concerns. It has always been a comfort to know that your child will be loved and cared for while they are away from you.” Mrs. Hoover is as active outside the classroom as she is inside it volunteering her time as Chairperson of the Summer Festival, organizing weekly Bingo, as well as volunteering for Hospice.

Barbara Korhumel – St. John the Baptist – Toledo – Mrs. Korhumel was nominated by the entire staff of St. John the Baptist school where she has taught for over thirty years in second and third grades, and where she will retire from this year. Her colleagues praised her dedication to mission events at the school noting that she has “modeled to our community that having a faith-based education helps to guide our children to make the best decision for the future of our society and the world at large.”

Mrs. Korhumel has also dedicated her time as parish mission liaison for the school, a volunteer for the Athletic Boosters, and helped to raise funds for the new school gym. When asked to reflect on her years teaching, Mrs. Korhumel said, “I made a conscious effort to try to give [my students] the best of me so they could use it to become the best that they are.”

Sharyn Lininger – St. Wendelin High School – Fostoria – Mrs. Lininger has been teaching Mathematics at St. Wendelin for the past 33 years. She is a member of the Greater Toledo Council of Teachers of Math, The Ohio Council of Teachers of Math, and the National Council of Teachers of Math. In her parish community Mrs. Lininger sings in the Choir, volunteers for the annual festival, and serves as a Eucharistic Minister. The fellow teacher who nominated Mrs. Lininger describes her as a highly intelligent professional who continues to learn to better her teaching methods and ultimately her students. Angela Joseph, Principal at St. Wendelin, says of Mrs. Lininger, “Sharyn Lininger lives the Christian ideal of serving others before oneself.”

Jill Mack– Defiance Catholic School, St. Mary Campus – Defiance – Mrs. Mack has taught in Defiance Catholic Schools since 1981 in the areas of fourth to sixth grade Math, Language Arts, Religion and Reading. Prior to teaching in Defiance, Mrs. Mack taught at St. Augustine school in Napoleon and St. John’s Catholic school in Defiance. Mrs. Mack was nominated by a fellow teacher who describes Mrs. Mack as an inspiration to her students and a pioneer in technology for the school. Mrs. Mack piloted an online grading program for the school, helped update the school’s media center, and has attended numerous technology conferences and workshops to help her learn even more. For her efforts, Mrs. Mack was recognized at the State Technology Conference in Columbus this year as on of the top ten technology teachers in the state.

Sr. Joselyn Weeman, SND – Queen of Apostles – Toledo – Sr. Joselyn has served in the Diocese for 35 years as teacher, principal, founder of Double ARC and consultant for Double ARC. Sr. Joselyn has taught third grade at Queen of Apostles for the past four years, and was nominated by current students and parents. Sr. Joselyn is described as patient, loving, and understanding. Sister Mary Carol Gregory, Director of Central City Ministry School praises Sr. Joselyn saying, “Under the direction of Sister Joselyn, students learn more and learn well. When one enters Sister’s classroom, you see happy children who love and respect their teacher.” Sr. Joselyn devotes time outside of school to tutoring children and is also an active volunteer to Teens Encounter Christ and the Servant Leadership Center.

For more information on the winners or the May 7 banquet please contact Jack Altenburger, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, at the Catholic Youth and Schools Services office at 419-244-6711 x 621.