The Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators (VCSEA) is proud to sponsor its annual Golden Apple Award. Presented each spring, this prestigious award recognizes an exceptional individual or team that consistently demonstrates outstanding professionalism and unwavering advocacy for students with disabilities.
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