The crystal apple is an award given to excellent teachers, administrators and school staff, a play on the custom of giving an apple to the teacher. A number of national, statewide and local educational organizations throughout the United States honor their teachers with crystal apples.

Eligibility

Teachers can be nominated by administrators, parents, fellow teachers, and school staff. Some organizations restrict the award to teachers, like the Umatilla-Morrow Education Service District in Oregon.

Judging

Each organization chooses its own panel of judges, which could include students, parents, other teachers, school staff, former award winners, business sponsors and elected officials.

Worthiness

A teacher could win the award for a number of reasons. For example, the Plain Dealer Publishing Company's Newspapers in Education, along with Bryant & Stratton College, sponsor a crystal apple award, and asks for nominations of "an educator out there who has inspired you, challenged you, supported you and helped you realize your true potential."

Organizations

Some organizations who sponsor a crystal apple award are the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation in Oregon, Emory University in Georgia, the DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce in Florida, KSBW Television in California, and the American Association of School Librarians.

Gifts

Crystal apples can also simply be given to a teacher from a student as a gift of appreciation, according to Apple Awards, a company that sells crystal apples.

Source:

Apple Awards

Umatilla-Morrow Education Service District

The Plain Dealer Newspapers in Education