Golden Apple Award winner

Howard County - Megan Merkel, a preschool teacher at Cresco Early Childhood Center, recently received the Golden Apple Award from the KIMT News 3 television station.

Merkel, a preschool teacher for 13 years, was nominated for the award by paraprofessional Amy Norby.

KIMT News Reporter Stefante Randall traveled to Cresco to film and interview Merkel for the station’s evening broadcast.

Crestwood Elementary Principal Sara Grimm presented the Golden Apple Award to Merkel as her class clapped and cheered.

Merkel described her feelings to KIMT News after receiving the Golden Apple Award:

“I just feel so appreciated. Anyone who works here could have received this award, so the fact (Amy) filled out an application and nominated me gives me the warm and fuzzy feeling we all want this time of the year,” Merkel said.

Merkel said she is happy to come to work every day:

“It’s exciting for me because I’ve been teaching preschool now for 13 years, and Crestwood is the school I graduated from and this has been my first and only teaching job,” she said. “I love it; I love this age; I love the people I get to work with. It’s really a community here, and it makes it easy to come to work every day. To get this award on top of that is just so gratifying.

Her goal, Merkel said, is to make an individual connection with each student:

“I come here every day and I want that individual connection with each and every student in my class, and because we are in this big building, all the kids that come here,” she said. “Their excitement is contagious, so it’s easy to be energetic here, to have fun here. That’s what I look forward to the most every day: Having that connection with kids, being that person in their life that gets down at their level, talks to them, knows what they like, and gets those things they like involved in their learning. That’s how these kids learn best; being hands-on and using what they like as a way to learn new things. That’s what makes it exciting here every day.”

When asked how something like the Golden Apple Award might boost recognition for the work of educators, Merkel said, “Teachers think about kids all of the time. We’re always looking for that thing that will catch their interest and spark that learning for them. We want them to be lifelong learners. We are so lucky here to start them on that journey. If we have kids already excited about STEM in preschool, once they get into junior high and high school, they’re really going to be able to take off and do even more.

“I appreciate all of the teachers,  and I’m so glad that are programs like the Golden Apple Award that give parents, other teachers, childcare providers and the community a chance to recognize teachers who want to help kids be the best they can be and fulfill their potential,” Merkel said.

Merkel thanks the educators that shaped her as a child, a well as her family for their support over the years:

 “I wouldn’t’ be where I am today without the people who encouraged me all the way since I was in school, and my own family. As teachers, we’re always trying to balance our own families with our school family, so I want to thank my family for always supporting me,” she said.

Norby talked to KIMT TV News about the reasons she chose to nominate Merkel for the Golden Apple Award:

“I’m learning so much from her, and she’s so good with the kids,” Norby said. “There are kids in every different (learning) spectrum in our room, and she gets through to all of them. They all learn in different ways, and she can show them several ways to learn so that they can comprehend the lessons.

Norby said she has benefited from Merkel’s example as she works individually with a student:

“I’m learning how to work with the kids better. Watching her, I’m learning to show them the proper way to cut things, hold their pencils, how to talk to them. I work with (a student) one-on-one, and Megan is always giving me ideas on how to get through to her.

“She goes above and beyond to make sure the class is learning, but that staff is learning. We all work well together as a team.  Her energy is wonderful to be around; she’s a great person,” Norby said.