Bishop Leonard P. Blair is to award seven elementary school teachers and two high school teachers the Golden Apple Award for devoting their time and talents to Catholic education in the Diocese of Toledo.

Each award winner is to receive a check for $5,000, a Golden Apple keepsake decorated with a 24-karat gold cross and a lapel pin during an awards banquet May 17 at The Toledo Club.

Twenty teachers from across the diocese were nominated for this year’s award by a parent, a student or a fellow teacher. Each school is allowed one nominee whose application is then sent to a selection committee comprised of educators, administrators and members of the Bishop’s Education Council.

This year’s winners are:

Anne Asher

Anne Asher
Huron St. Peter Elementary School
For 23 years Ms. Asher has taught math and science at St. Peter in grades three through eight. She is a member of the Ohio Catholic Educator’s Association, the National Middle School Association and is a Discovery Network Educator. Outside of school Ms. Asher is an extraordinary ministry of Holy Communion. The parent who nominated Ms. Asher says, “It is her unbelievably strong and unmistakably apparent faith that sets her apart.” Principal Linda Smith also noted Ms. Asher’s strong faith saying, “Her faith, ever growing, blossoms as it attracts the interest and informs the minds of her young students.”

Jennifer Bine

Jennifer Bine
Toledo St. Pius X Elementary School
Ms. Bine has taught fourth- through sixth-grade language arts, religion and social studies at St. Pius X since 2001. She is a parish youth minister and serves on the Toledo Area Council of the International Reading Association and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Nominated by parents and students, one parent says of Ms. Bine, “I believe her intrinsic ability to teach young children shines through every day helping the children in her class to be successful.” Principal Deb O’Shea says, “Jennifer is always trying to transform the students into the best they can be, whether it be with their studies or with their relationships with others.”

JoAnna Brouwer

JoAnna Brouwer
Toledo Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School
Ms. Brouwer has taught second graders at Our Lady of Lourdes for 25 years and taught two years prior to that at Toledo St. Hedwig. She helps with many school and community projects including the school service club, mission activities and the Toledo Area Council of the International Reading Association. A parent of a current student who nominated Ms. Brouwer says, “The whole class has a sense of unity and purpose that has grown with her leadership.” Father James Brown, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes describes Ms. Brouwer as “a teacher who gently draws from the children what they are capable of with their individual gifts, talents and creativity, even though they are only 7 or 8 years old.”

Brian Clark

Brian Clark
Toledo Central Catholic High School
Mr. Clark has taught several subjects over the course of his 27 years at Central Catholic High School including social studies, U.S. history and psychology. Current students nominated Mr. Clark and describe him as a teacher who inspires them to reach higher and make the world a better place. Students also nominated Mr. Clark and his family for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” and when he was not chosen for the show, the students raised money to help make improvements to the Clark home. Principal Michael Kaucher says Mr. Clark “has made an invaluable contribution to the church, the Central Catholic community and the thousands of students that have passed through his classroom door.”

Steve Kohler

Steve Kohler
Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic High School
A teacher at St. Mary since 1983, Mr. Kohler has taught U.S. history, government, economics, media in history and teen leadership. He is active in the school and community, teaching at BGSU Firelands, serving as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, a Red Cross blood donor and as a faculty member on the Teen Leadership Corp, which hosts community activities to help those in need. Nominated by a parent of former students, Mr. Kohler is described as the perfect Golden Apple candidate. Judy Monaghan, superintendent of Sandusky Central Catholic School, says “he understands it is the little things in life than can make the big difference. SCCS continues to grow in a productive way because of people like Steve.” 

Lisa Marie Mahler

Lisa Marie Mahler
Lima St. Charles Elementary School
Ms. Mahler has taught kindergarten at St. Charles for the past eight years. She volunteers her time in the school and parish as an RCIA sponsor, PTO secretary and as a volunteer on the St. Charles Auction Committee. The nominating parent describes Ms. Mahler as a passionate teacher who stays involved with all aspects of the school. Principal Sara Dee says, “Lisa is committed; she has the support of her coworkers; she has the appreciation of school families; and she has dedicated her career to Catholic education.” In the same way, Father Stephen Blum, pastor at St. Charles, says, “The children respect and love her and her ‘motherly’ faith and discipline are obvious in and out of the classroom.”

Betsy Ross Hug

Betsy Ross Hug
Edgerton St. Mary Elementary School
Ms. Hug started her teaching career in various schools outside the diocese, but has taught sixth grade at St. Mary for the past four years. She is active in many school and community organizations including the St. Jude Hospital & Research Walkathon, March for Life, Quiz Bowl coach, and School and County Spelling Bee coordinator. The family of a past and current student nominated Ms. Hug and they describe her as a teacher who gives all of herself to her students. Principal Julie Taylor says Betsy “is passionate about teaching in Catholic schools, and is a faith-filled role model for our students and school community.”

Jean Tennill

Jean Tennill
Bellevue Immaculate Conception Elementary School
For more than 37 years, Ms. Tennill has taught at Immaculate Conception School; the past 31 as the second-grade teacher. She has served as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion for school liturgies since 1988 and currently serves as Missions Coordinator, Sunshine Committee and acts as a faculty representative at PTO meetings. The parent who nominated Ms. Tennill says that she “loves each child the way they are, just like God loves us just the way we are.” In the same manner, Kathy Bolen, principal at Immaculate Conception says, “Jean strives to bring the Catholic faith alive to her students and empowers each one to be a better person.”

Maureen VanDePutte

Maureen VanDePutte
Toledo St. Clement Elementary School
Ms. VanDePutte has taught for eight years at St. Clement with six years in fourth- and fifth-grade social studies and two years as a kindergarten teacher. She is the student council advisor and she volunteers her time with Aurora House and Race for the Cure. Nominated by several parents and students, Ms. VanDePutte is described as a caring teacher who works with parents to ensure a successful school year for everyone. One of her students wrote, “Every day I look forward to school because she’s there.” Father Mike Brown, pastor of St. Clement, describes Ms. VanDePutte as “helpful, organized, forthright and reliable in all she does.”