Please click here for more information about the Gail Lynk Award and nomination requirements.
Please click here for more information about the Golden Apple Awards and nomination requirements.
The 2025 Golden Apple Award
The Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators (VCSEA) is pleased to sponsor our annual Golden Apple Award. The Golden Apple is presented each spring to an individual and/or team who, through professionalism and advocacy for students with disabilities:
Focuses on student strengths in the development of programs or activities that maximize students’ potential,
Actively creates opportunities for students with disabilities to be fully engaged as members of the school community,
Participates and contributes to a collaborative team process,
Demonstrates resourcefulness in meeting student needs, and
Demonstrates compassion and respect for students, family members and all members of the school community.
CONGRATULATIONS TO: Bonnie Lenihan, Slate Valley School District, the 2025 Golden Apple Individual Award Winner
CONGRATULATIONS TO: The RISE and STEP Team at Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union
the 2025 Golden Apple Team Award Winners!
The 2025 Gail Lynk Administrator of the Year Award
Gail Lynk was a special education administrator for many years in Addison Northwest Supervisory Union. She had a tremendous, long lasting, positive impact on the students, families and professionals she worked with before her death.
Each year, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators recognizes and celebrates the achievements of a Vermont Special Education Administrator through the presentation of the Gail Lynk Administrator of the Year Award. This award recognizes exemplary effort and achievement on behalf of Vermont children with special needs. This award is presented by VCSEA to a Special Education Administrator who demonstrates the pursuit of excellence in the field of Special Education.
CONGRATULATIONS TO: Carrie Lutz, Colchester School District, the 2025 Gail Lynk Administrator of the Year!
Past Winners
Gail Lynk Administrator of the Year
2025 Carrie Lutz, Colchester School District
2024: Mary Lundeen, Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District
2023: Kara Griswold, Addison Northwest School District
2022: Heather Freeman, Orange Southwest Supervisory Union
2021: Marsha Bruce, Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union
2020: Awards were cancelled for 2020
2019: Shirley Carlson, Franklin Northeast SU
2018: Vicki Wells, Addison Central School
2017: Erin Maguire, Essex Westford School District
2016: Marisa Duncan-Holley, Windham Southeast SU
2015: Meagan Roy, Chittenden South SU
2014: Beth Hemingway, Grand Isle SU
2013: Judith Eklund, Caledonia Central SU
2012: Eloise McGarry, Rutland City SD
2011: Joanne LeBlanc, Orleans Southwest SU
2010: Kristin Benway, Addison-Rutland SU
2009: Pamela Reed, Rutland High School
2008: Karen Woolsey, Windsor Northwest SU
2007: Nancy Thomas, Washington Central SU
2006: Steve Kinney, Orange Southwest SU
2005: Susan Cano, Lamoille North SU
2004: Jeanne Collins, Burlington SD
2003: Carlene Bellamy, Washington Northeast SU
2002: Kathleen Buck, Southwest VT SU
2001: Linda Chaim, Franklin Northwest SU
2000: Adrienne Fischer, Franklin West SU
1999: Diane Treadway, Addison Northeast SU
1998: Jo-Anne Unruh, Hartford SD
1997: Linda Redmond, Barre Town
1996: Joyce Duback, Springfield SD
1995: Michelle LaRouche, Rutland Northeast SU
1994: Vicki Hornus, Burlington SD
1993: Terry Hurlbert, Essex North SU
1992: Janice Keffer, Milton SD
1991: Daniel Kucij, Franklin Central SU
1990: Barbara Rocray, Windham Southeast SU
Golden Apple Award
Individual Winners
2025: Bonnie Lenihan, Castleton Elementary School - Slate Valley School District
2024: Penne Wheeler, CP Smith Elmentary School, Burlington SD
2023: Hope Watson, Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
2022: Jennifer Patenaude, North Country Supervisory Union
2021: Sarah Sargent, Shelburne Community School
2020: Awards were cancelled for 2020
2019: Melinda Schmalz, Barre Supervisory Union
2018: Caitlin Fort, Lyndon Town School
2017: Bruce Whitman, Leland and Grey High School
2016: Heidi Mosher, Franklin Northwest Supervisory Union
2015: Jessica Kuzmich, Manchester Elementary School
2014: Linell Vilaseca, Champlain Valley Union High School
Team Winners
2025: The RISE and STEP Team - Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union
2024: Brookside Primary School - Harwood Unified Union School District
Megan Rivera, Chris Neville, Shelley Swahn, Pam Menz, Cory Anderson, Pat Crocker, Heather Sheehan, Pam Barnard, Liana Nuse, Mindy Woodworth, and Carl Mintken
2022: Central Vermont Supervisory Union BOOST Team
Danielle Palmer, Corrie Rilling, Steph Barclay, Courtney Sholtz, Chyann Newton, Kaitlyn Trombly, Mercedes Fontes, Stephanie Greenslit, Cathy Trainque, Heather Placey-Noyes, Ashley MacCormack, Collette Smith, and Andrea Wasson
2021: Champlain Valley School District
Katey Wisse, Janelle Moynihan, Ali Karmosky, Traci Titchener, Jennifer Randal, Cindy Cole
2018: Harwood Union Supervisory
Rachael Potts, Elizabeth King, Donna Mullins, Susan Whitehair, Brian Anderson, Kyla Allon, Ellen Bruneau & Shonna Hunter
2017: Proctor Elementary School
Jessica Houck, Becky Smith-McKee, Beth Mitchell, Abby Bennett, Sandi Reardon & Amanda Anderson
2016: The Westford Middle School Team
Dave Goss, Lee Lichtenstein, Sally Conant, Chris Cichoski Kelly, Kristy Pigeon, Sheila Thurston & Amy Gates
2015: The North Country Academy Team
Andrew Bouchard, Anita Mayhew, Cheryl Bugbee, Colleen Fagan, Chris Murphy, Jessica Puckett, Meg Norman, Pam Wade, Ryan Anderson, Rachel Maxwell, Robyn Midi, Richard Szymanski, & Rob Wing
2014: The Riverside Middle School Team
Darlene Petke, Val Gasco, Jeff Vandivere, Franco Chiapperini, Tom Green, Mary Ellen Schofield & Meredith Jez
2013: The Cambridge Elementary School
Dianne Carlino-Desroches, Michelle Piche, & Paulette Desell-Lund
The Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
PO Box 214
Jericho, VT 05465
www.vcsea.net