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The winner of the Golden Apple at each school is decided by you!
Whether your nominee is an outstanding teacher, administrator, nurse, custodian, secretary, aide, paraprofessional, counselor, resource officer, etc., they all make a difference in the lives of our children! Upper Arlington schools are a huge part of what make this community an amazing place to live, so let’s say thank you to those who shape the lives of our youth.
Nominations for 2026 are now closed. The winners will be announced later this spring and awards presented at the schools. Thank you for your support!
Past Golden Apple Award Winners
Here are your 2025 Golden Apple Award Winners
St Andrews School
Christina Amweg
Congratulations to Christina Amweg! She is a second grade teacher and the UACA Golden Apple Award winner for St. Andrew School!
"It was clear from the start that she is well organized and a great communicator. Her patience and calm demeanor are evident, as is her passion for guiding the students in their faith and academic development."
Wellington
Sloan Magliery
Sloan Magliery is our next UACA Golden Apple winner. She is the Middle School Dean of Students at Wellington. Congrats!
"Students trust Sloan because she connects with them authentically and goes above and beyond to make them feel seen and cared for. At the same time, Sloan challenges students and holds them to high expectations because she knows what they're capable of."
St Agatha
Davide Hughes
Congratulations to David Hughes for winning this year's UACA Golden Apple Award for St. Agatha!
"Mr. Hughes is an exceptional middle school science teacher who sets high expectations while fostering a culture of curiosity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning."
Mountview Christian Church
Tracy Lear
Tracy Lear is the UACA Golden Apple Award winner for our Preschool category.
She teaches Kindergarten at Mountview Christian Church. Congratulations!
"Ms. Tracy is a phenomenal teacher. She cares deeply about her students - not just how they are doing academically but how they are developing as people."
Windermere Elementary
Alyssa Lively
Alyssa Lively is our next UACA Golden Apple Award winner. She is a 5th grade teacher at Windermere Elementary School. Congrats Alyssa!
"Above all, Mrs. Lively is admired for her integrity, kindness, and collaborative spirit. She is the colleague who listens, the mentor who encourages, and the educator who inspires."
Upper Arlington High School
Sean Martin
Congrats to Sean Martin, UACA Golden Apple Award winner for Upper Arlington High School!
"Mr. Martin creates a loving, fun, and hardworking class environment where everyone feels like they belong. He not only helps us grow as students but as young adults."
Barrington Elementary School
Jill Bixel
Congrats to Jill Bixel, the UACA Golden Apple Award winner for Barrington Elementary School!
"Mrs. Bixel is one of the finest educators I've met in my life. When I have asked our 5th grader what makes Mrs. Bixel so special, he says, 'she really doesn't treat us like kids... she doesn't make us memorize stuff to recite it back; she makes us think.'"
Tremont Elementary School
Lindsay Kidwell
Lindsay Kidwell is the Golden Apple Award winner for Tremont Elementary School. Congratulations!
"Lindsay always tells the kids that everything will work out if we all work hard and be kind to one another. This is the message we should be spreading to the young minds at UA every single day."
Jones Middle School
Sara Dross
Our next UACA Golden Apple Award winner is Sara Dross, Social Studies teacher at Jones Middle School. Congrats Sara!
"Mrs. Dross makes me smile every day and makes every student feels happy and welcome to be in her classroom. I have her 3 times a day and it is my favorite time of day."
Wickliffe Elementary School
Shelly Hughes
Our next UACA Golden Apple Award winner is Shelly Hughes, at Wickliffe Elementary School. Congratulations!
"Mrs. Hughes pays close attention to the needs of her students and class. She makes learning fun and challenging."
**Fun Fact: her husband was the winner yesterday for St. Agatha. What a duo!
District Golden Apple Award
Alicia McGinty
Congratulations to Alicia McGinty, the winner of the UACA District Golden Apple Award!
"Mrs. McGinty has made a significant impact on every student she’s met whether or not she’s had them in class. As an alumnus of Upper Arlington, friends of mine and I will still talk about her and how enjoyable and fun she made learning about art."
Hastings Middle School
Brian Shipley
Brian Shipley, a math teacher at Hastings Middle School, is the next UACA Golden Apple Award winner! Congratulations!
"Mr. Shipley is the teacher I could have only dreamed of in my middle-school experience as a student. Providing a consistent, safe, and helpful space for students to learn and grow in all the while feeling cared for and understood is so valuable and important!"
Greensview Elementary School
Melissa Dunagan
Our next UACA Golden Apple Award winner is Melissa Dunagan. She is a Gifted Intervention Specialist at Greensview Elementary School. Congratulations Melissa!
"Mrs. Dunagan is an incredible teacher, she does an amazing job caring for each student and learning about their passion and motivating them as individuals. She even comes to their sporting events and cheers them on in all the things they do."