(Joplin, MO) – The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce it has received 76 different nominations for outstanding educators for the 2026 Golden Apple Awards!
For over 40 years, the Golden Apple Awards have recognized excellence in teaching and showcased to the public the wonderful educators here in Joplin. The individuals listed below were nominated by students, parents, and peers in Joplin’s public and private schools
Judging for each category will take place soon. All nominees, and the individuals who nominated them, will honored be during a reception in May at Missouri Southern State University’s Corley Auditorium. Winners in each category will be announced then, as well.
The nominees are
Pre-K to Second Grade
| Amanda Beard | Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School |
| Paris Binning | Joplin Early Childhood |
| Ryleigh Brant | Soaring Heights Elementary School |
| Laura Campbell | Eastmorland Elementary School |
| Michele Dunker | Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School |
| Juliana Fontenot | Eastmorland Elementary School |
| Holly Hasty | Dover Hill Elementary School |
| Heidi Hedrick | Soaring Heights Elementary School |
| Myra Hidalgo | McKinley Elementary School |
| Jennifer Hyslip | Stepleton Elementary School |
| Elli Mason | Irving Elementary School |
| Amanda Pal | Soaring Heights Elementary School |
| Lauren Phillips | St. Mary’s Elementary School |
| Angela Sanborn | Dover Hill Elementary School |
| Michele Silvey | New Heights Christian Academy |
| Taylor Tyrrell | Irving Elementary School |
| Elaina Watkins | Stapleton Elementary School |
Third to Fifth Grade
| Kara Bridges | Kelsey Norman Elementary School |
| Jordan Chaffee | Irving Elementary School |
| Bailey Gardner | Irving Elementary School |
| Tracy Horton | Soaring Heights Elementary School |
| Katryn James | Irving Elementary School |
| Lindsey Koucky | Eastmorland Elementary School |
| Teresa Lamberson | Eastmorland Elementary School |
| Ryan Lovell | Soaring Height Elementary School |
| Carrie Owen | Dover Hill Elementary School |
| Kelly Painter | McKinley Elementary School |
| Amy Phillips | New Heights Christian Academy |
| Morgan Secrist | Kelsey Norman Elementary School |
Sixth to Eight Grade
| McKinley Anderson | East Middle School |
| Sarah Atnip | New Heights Christian Academy |
| Rachel Bowyer | South Middle School |
| Lisa Bromley | East Middle School |
| Leanne Burrus | East Middle School |
| Tonya Cary | North Middle School |
| Justina Clopton | East Middle School |
| Brock Compton | East Middle School |
| Daisy Crawford | East Middle School |
| Andrea Day | North Middle School |
| Joshua Doak | East Middle School |
| Caleb Durr | South Middle School |
| Dallas Epperson | East Middle School |
| Jessica Fletcher-Fierro | East Middle School |
| Angela Fry | South Middle School |
| Spencer Gibson | South Middle School |
| Zachery Gibson | East Middle School |
| William Hedrick | North Middle School |
| Juliana Hughes | South Middle School |
| Amanda Hutcheson | East Middle School |
| Marissa Mitchell | East Middle School |
| Jenny Moore | East Middle School |
| Brittany Nugent | East Middle School |
| Amanda Perry | New Heights Christian Academy |
| Lisa Putney | South Middle School |
| Katie Rattles | East Middle School |
| George Richardson | East Middle School |
| Kathleen Rivers | North Middle School |
| Morgan Smith | South Middle School |
| Ronald Smith | East Middle School |
| Kimmie Sowder | Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School |
| Lara Stamper | East Middle School |
| Crystal Stokes | North Middle School |
| Brandon Teel | East Middle School |
| Kylee Vanhorn | East Middle School |
| Cheri Wright | East Middle School |
| Morgan Wright | South Middle School |
Ninth to Twelfth Grade
| John Blankenship | New Heights Christian Academy |
| Monica Brown | Joplin High School |
| Tarryn Gilbert | Joplin High School |
| McCade Gordon | Joplin High School |
| Brian Hancock | Joplin High School |
| Tiffanie Moore-Crouch | Joplin High School |
| Rebecca Olivares | Joplin High School |
| Jamie Williams | Joplin High School |
| Johnny Wood | Joplin High School |
The Joplin Chamber would like to thank all the students, parents, and teachers who nominated these outstanding educators. And a special thank you to the 2026 Golden Apple Award sponsors, ALLO Fiber and Missouri Southern State University’s Teacher Education Department.
Reference:
Erin Slifka, Vice President
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
417.624.4150
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