{"id":134149,"date":"2026-01-27T23:10:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T23:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/134149\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T23:10:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T23:10:10","slug":"sanibel-educator-named-on-finalist-list-for-golden-apple-sanibel-captiva","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/134149\/","title":{"rendered":"Sanibel educator named on finalist list for Golden Apple – SANIBEL-CAPTIVA"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n Another is a Teacher of Distinction <\/p>\n

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\nThe Sanibel School Music Department Director and elementary music teacher Joey Giangreco with his Seahorse Chorale students at their performance in December at Walt Disney World in Orlando.<\/p>\n

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\nThe Sanibel School’s Seahorse Chorale, led by Music Department Director and elementary music teacher Joey Giangreco, performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City for the New York Invitational Music Festival in 2024.<\/p>\n

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THE SANIBEL SCHOOL
\nThe Sanibel School middle school math teacher Barbara Scarnato with her students.<\/p>\n

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The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools announced the 39th Annual Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program finalists, and one educator at The Sanibel School made the list for the first time.<\/p>\n

Comprised of community and business leaders, the foundation\u2019s Golden Apple Selection Committee is charged with the task of picking the recipients as the applications are narrowed down to 30 finalists.<\/p>\n

On this year\u2019s list is Music Department Director and elementary music teacher Joey Giangreco.<\/p>\n

The Sanibel school reported that he was honored among the list of top educators for his outstanding commitment to student learning, artistic excellence and community engagement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis recognition as a Golden Apple finalist reflects his passion for teaching and the meaningful impact he has made on his students and the broader Lee County community through music education,\u201d it shared.<\/p>\n

As part of the selection process for the recognition program, dozens of Golden Apple Teachers of Distinction are also honored. Middle school math teacher Barbara Scarnato is a recipient.<\/p>\n

The Sanibel school reported that she wears many hats \u2014 and excels at them all.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis well-deserved honor reflects her unwavering dedication, leadership and impact on our school community,\u201d it shared. \u201cHer passion for education and commitment to students inspire us all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giangreco reported that it is his first time making the finalist list.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very honored and very excited to be chosen,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He was previously honored three times as a Teacher of Distinction, mostly recently last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a great deal to be recognized in the past as a Teacher of Distinction,\u201d Giangreco said, adding that this year is exciting. \u201cI\u2019m very humbled to be in this group, the top 30 finalists. I am, certainly, amongst a wonderful group of colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his 11th year with the Sanibel school, he started out as the music director.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have always taught K-5 general music, in addition to performing arts and the Steel Drum Band,\u201d Giangreco said.<\/p>\n

His second year he founded the Seahorse Chorale and later the Elementary Choir and Orff Club.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to those positions, I\u2019ve also served the school in other ways,\u201d Giangreco said.<\/p>\n

He has been an elementary math tutor, a middle school team leader, part of school\u2019s leadership team, and a teacher for sixth grade study skills and health, which was rebranded this year to sixth grade enrichment. Giangreco has also offered support for elementary teachers with small group instruction.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Sanibel School was my first official, music teacher position,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Giangreco received his bachelor\u2019s degree from Florida Gulf Coast University, majoring in music education with a concentration in chorale singing. He conducted his internship with the School District of Lee County, interning at both Three Oaks Elementary School and Cypress Lake High School.<\/p>\n

\u201cMusic has always been such an important part of my life,\u201d he said, explaining that he remembers singing to songs his mother would play when he was young and singing in choirs growing up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt brought me such joy and a vehicle to express myself,\u201d Giangreco added. \u201cIn high school, I knew that I wanted to bring my passion for music to my own students, the same way my teachers had inspired me throughout my education.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pointed to inspiring his students through teaching as his philosophy on education, providing them an education in music on the fundamentals, while building their confidence to become better musicians.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition, providing them an outlet to express themselves and unleash their creativity,\u201d Giangreco said.<\/p>\n

He noted that music can provide students with wonderful opportunities that they do not get anywhere else, adding that he wants to provide them with opportunities that they will remember for the rest of their lives, whether that be preparing for a school program or a performance at Walt Disney World in Orlando or Carnegie Hall in New York City.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese opportunities can change a student\u2019s life,\u201d Giangreco said.<\/p>\n

He expressed his appreciation for the foundation and the recognition. Giangreco thanked his current and past school administrators for their guidance and support through the years, as well as his colleagues for being a great support for him and the Music Department.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank each of my students, both current and past, for inspiring me as their teacher,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also want to give a special thank you to my mom, who has been a tremendous support throughout all of my life, throughout my education,\u201d Giangreco added. \u201cI could not have done this without her support and love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scarnato called being named a Teacher of Distinction an honor.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe award is special because it\u2019s usually our students or their parents who nominate us,\u201d she said. \u201cSo the fact that my students and parents feel I\u2019m making an impact on their education, obviously, is a tremendous honor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scarnato has been recognized as a Teacher of Distinction several times, with the first taking place in 2021. She was also honored as a finalist one year. Additionally, Scarnato was recognized as the Teacher of the Year for the district\u2019s South Zone schools this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my 11th year at The Sanibel School,\u201d she said. \u201cMiddle school math has been my focus since I\u2019ve been with The Sanibel School.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the years, Scarnato has served in additional roles. She is the athletic director and coaches basketball, volleyball, soccer and more. Scarnato is also a test coordinator for the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) assessments and a math coach, and she serves on the safety team.<\/p>\n

Prior to joining the school, she was at Bonita Springs Middle School for 16 years. Scarnato started out as an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher, holding her first job at Three Oaks Elementary.<\/p>\n

She earned her associate\u2019s degree from Edison State College, now called Florida SouthWestern State College, and her education degree, with a speciality in ESE, from Florida Gulf Coast University.<\/p>\n

Scarnato noted that she did not start out in the education field. She originally attended vocational school and was a cosmetologist for 18 years, before returning to college to pursue education.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first love was teaching,\u201d Scarnato said.<\/p>\n

She explained that both of her brothers have learning disabilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI watched how hard my brothers struggled, so I wanted to be that teacher to help those kids,\u201d Scarnato said. \u201cI wanted to give kids that struggled to learn an opportunity, to provide them with a teacher who understood and could help them become successful.\u201d<\/p>\n

The finalists will be interviewed and observed in their classes by the Selection Committee, and six will be selected for the Golden Apple Award. They will be honored at the Annual Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Banquet in April at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center & Amphitheater in Fort Myers.<\/p>\n

The Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program was the first major project founded and developed by the foundation. Since its inception as a way to enhance public education by recognizing and rewarding excellence in teaching, the program has awarded 219 educators with the Golden Apple Teacher Award.<\/p>\n

\u2026..<\/p>\n

2026 GOLDEN APPLE AWARD FINALISTS<\/p>\n

\u2013 Jessica Alimonti, of Diplomat Middle School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Jeffrey Armsworth, of Lexington Middle School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Jonathan Barr, of Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Michael Benfer, of Dunbar High School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Cameron Brooks, of Tice Elementary School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Alisa Brown, of Diplomat Middle School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Darielle Callender, of Franklin Park Elementary School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Ingrid Echeverria, of North Fort Myers High School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Laurie Faye, of South Fort Myers High School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Wendy Fiore, of Cypress Lake Middle School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Lisa Flannery, of Lee Virtual School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Steven Gainey, of East Lee County High School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Brittany Gardiner, of Oak Hammock Middle School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Joseph Giangreco, of The Sanibel School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Cheyenne Grant, of Sunshine Elementary School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Catherine Griffin, of Dunbar High School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Anne Hester, of East Lee County High School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Stephanie Liljegren, of River Hall Elementary School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Christina Marco, of River Hall Elementary School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Catherine Mattison, of East Lee County High School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Elizabeth O\u2019Connor, of Ray V. Pottorf Elementary School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Megan Price, of James Stephens Elementary School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Rhonda Rainer, of Caloosa Elementary School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Arial Raulerson, of Lehigh Senior High School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Krista Rivera, of Gulf Elementary School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Christian Saravia, of Harns Marsh Middle School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Quinn Schnabel, of Diplomat Middle School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Laurie Smiley, of Dunbar High School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Gabriel Waldinger, of Three Oaks Middle School<\/p>\n

\u2013 Michaela Zawisza, of Trafalgar Elementary School<\/p>\n

Source: The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools<\/p>\n


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