Leanne Olmstead, an English Language Arts teacher at Ida S. Baker High School, has been awarded the 2024 APPLES Mentor of the Year award. PROVIDED

Two teachers have been recognized for their dedication to helping others and teaching youngsters, each receiving the 2024 APPLES Mentor of the Year award and the 2024 New Teacher of the Year Award.

Leanne Olmstead, an English Language Arts teacher at Ida S. Baker High School, was surprised last week with the 2024 APPLES Mentor of the Year award.

The 2024 New Teacher of the Year was presented to Robert Jones, a sixth-grade teacher at Lehigh Acres Middle School.

The APPLES (Accomplished Professional Practices for Lee County Education System) Program offers support to new and beginning teachers through a multi-tiered system.

“Ms. Olmstead always steps up to mentor others, whether they are in the APPLES program or not” Ida S. Baker High School Assistant Principal Jill Johnson said in a prepared statement. “When it comes to curriculum assistance and planning, Leanne ensures that her mentee understands and can access all resources, as well as shares her resources and ideas. When observing and giving feedback, she is professional and gives multiple levels of guidance to ensure that the mentee comes away with valuable feedback.”

The 2024 New Teacher of the Year was presented to Robert Jones, a sixth-grade teacher at Lehigh Acres Middle School. PROVIDED

Olmstead said she was absolutely not expecting the award, as she thought the interview went so terribly. She said honestly, with being in testing season right now, she was initially frustrated with the intrusion into her classroom as her students needed every minute possible.

“I see my husband standing there. They came in with balloons and flowers; it suggested they were there for a good reason,” she said.

Olmstead, who has been in the district for seven years, six of which she has also dedicated to being an APPLE Mentor, spent more than 20 years teaching in Minnesota before coming to Florida.

“I was paired up my first year with an APPLE Mentor, so they could show me the ropes of a brand-new school and state,” she said, adding that she is proud of the program as she is a non-evaluative person who can help acclimate them to the classroom.

Olmstead meets weekly with her mentees and goes over such areas as instructional practices, planning and classroom management. She also observes the teachers through a planned monthly visit.

“They are always invited to come into my classroom and observe,” she said, adding that they also email and text her frequently with questions.

“I always make sure we have a collaborative relationship; they know I have their back and here to support them.”

Olmstead said teaching cannot be done in isolation. The APPLES Mentor program is a built-in relationship, a created partnership for a new teacher.

“Often we think we can only learn from people who have experience. It goes both ways. It’s a collaborative relationship. It might seem one way for a while — let me give you everything you possibly need,” Olmstead said, adding that once they settle into the year it becomes a two-way street.

She said if she has a tool that can help someone else, why not share it with them.

“Our craft can be shared. What we know and do well, can be shared with others,” Olmstead said.

She had a mentor in her life while teaching in Minnesota.

“She took me under her wing and showed me my potential,” Olmstead said, adding Sue Van Hooser was the first person she reached out to when she received the award. “I reached out to her to let her know I owed it all to her. Fifteen years, I worked with her.”

Olmstead said teaching is so cool due to the number of people that you touch, and those that touch you.

“Our roots go so long, and deep — at the end of our careers we have the potential of influencing so many people,” she said.

Jones earned his award through similar dedication, officials said.

“Mr. Jones has made an indelible mark on both his students and colleagues, demonstrating exceptional dedication, creativity, and passion for teaching,” Lehigh Acres Middle School Assistant Principal Vincent Lewis said in a prepared statement. “He currently teaches 6th grade iReady Reading and has received high praise from his colleagues, administration, and district personnel. He is dedicated to student achievement.”

The New Teacher of the Year program recognizes newly certified personnel for the significant contributions they make to both their school and the district.

Jones was surprised last Thursday during his third-period class when his principal, district staff and the superintendent entered his classroom.

“It was amazing. I had seen them walk in with balloons and gift bags. I wasn’t sure what was going on in the moment,” he said. “It’s an incredible honor.”

Jones, who was still trying to find words to explain what it meant to receive the award, said he took a lot of pride in being named the New Teacher of the Year. He said it showed him that he is capable of having the opportunity at a high level to impact the youth.

“Another way I know it’s my passion is ever since I stepped into the education field I have received great compliments, great achievements. It’s not the typical year of a first-year teacher,” he said.

Jones, as a student, was on the A and B honor roll from elementary school to college. His first dream was to make it in the NFL, but unfortunately, he fell short, so he turned to law enforcement, as both of his parents are law enforcement officers.

“I quickly realized I couldn’t make an impact on inmates that were already incarcerated,” Jones said. “I went ahead and gave it a shot to go into education. I first started off as a paraprofessional to see how the environment would be.”

When he realized the impact he had on the students, he thought “maybe this is something I can be pretty good at.”

“It’s been amazing, honestly. Most days it doesn’t even feel like work. I’m doing what I have always dreamed of — giving back to youth,” Jones said. “Watching little young individuals progress weekly, daily, and monthly, it’s been a blessing.”

As a sixth-grade reading teacher, he keeps his students engaged by relating the content to real world experiences that they understand. Jones said he is making sure they are constantly moving and doing assignments in collaboration with other classmates while thinking deeply to answer questions.

Jones said they did an author purpose assignment where they had to create a one pager that either informed, entertained, or persuaded their audience with their own topic.

“Making assignments relatable to the students definitely helps with engagement,” he said.