CSHS marketing teacher wins 2025 Roanoke County Golden Apple Teacher of the Year Award
Updated
(left to right: Lauren Burgess, Barbara McGrath, Kristen Canipe, Peyton Hurd, Wendy Niday)
“How are we going to cultivate character today?” This is what Kristen Canipe, a marketing teacher at Cave Spring High School, says is the heartbeat of her classroom. Canipe, the 2025 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year, says “adolescence is a pivotal time, shaping the leaders of tomorrow,” and that she works to model respect, responsibility and safety in everything she does.
The Roanoke County Golden Apple Teacher of the Year Award, presented in partnership with the Roanoke County Public Schools Education Foundation, is the highest honor that can be presented annually to a teacher in Roanoke County Public Schools.
As the 2025 Roanoke County Golden Apple Teacher of the Year, Canipe becomes the nominee from Roanoke County Public Schools for the 2027 Virginia Teacher of the Year Award and receives the use of a brand-new Subaru for one year, courtesy of Southern Team Auto.
In addition, Roanoke County Public Schools and the RCPS Education Foundation announced the winners of the Red Apple Award – the top teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels. The 2025 Red Apple Award winners are:
- Wendy Niday – kindergarten teacher at Herman L. Horn Elementary School
- Lauren Burgess – English teacher at Northside Middle School
- Barbara McGrath – Science teacher at William Byrd High School
RCPS and the Education Foundation also recognizes the outstanding teacher with three years or less experience with the Green Apple Award. The 2025 Green Apple Award Winner is Peyton Hurd from Burlington Elementary School.
Thanks to a sponsorship from Southern Team Auto, the Roanoke County Golden Apple Teacher of the Year received a check for $1000. The Red Apple winners received a check for $700 each, and the Green Apple winner received a check for $500. Every finalist also received a check for $75.
“More than 130 teachers were nominated, and we ultimately narrowed the nominees down to 16 finalists,” said Joseph Higginbotham, president of the RCPS Education Foundation.
“Several Foundation Board members, including myself, served on the selection committee and watched each video submitted by our finalists. The selection process was very difficult, and the committee had a challenging time selecting our final winner. We are extremely grateful to have so many incredible teachers in our schools,” Higginbotham said.
“We are so grateful for the continued support from the Education Foundation for our students and teachers,” said Dr. Ken Nicely, superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools. “Every teacher is worthy of this recognition and I’m so appreciative of all the hard work and dedication our teachers bring to their classrooms every day,” Dr. Nicely said.
About the Roanoke County Public Schools Education Foundation:
The Roanoke County Education Foundation was created in 1991 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization to help young people in Roanoke County Public Schools meet some of their educational and personal goals. Our mission is to promote the advancement and further the aims and goals of Roanoke County Public Schools through the development and application of donated financial resources. We provide student scholarships for graduating seniors, classroom grants for innovative teaching ideas, and assist with financial support for educational initiatives.
Support for these programs comes from corporate and private contributions. To make a donation, go online to http://www.supportroanokecountyed.org or call Chuck Lionberger at 540-562-3900 ext. 10262.