Rhode Island Education Commissioner Debora Gist, along with a following of media and school administrators, swooped in on two teachers from the Bristol Warren Regional School District on Monday, April 27, interrupting their lessons to laud them for their service and present them with Golden Apples.

Just after 10 a.m., Commissioner Gist and WJAR-TV news anchor Patrice Wood surprised Hugh Cole kindergarten teacher Trisha Minnella, announcing that she was the recipient of the Golden Apple Award, a weekly recognition of teaching excellence coordinated by WJAR, the Rhode Island Department of Education and Hasbro Children’s Hospital. An hour later, the crew went to Mt. Hope High School where industrial arts teacher Sarina Lake also took a bite of the Golden Apple.

Bristol Warren Superintendent Mario Andrade read the nomination letter submitted by the mother of Angel Sousa, a student in Ms. Minnella’s class. Among her accolades, Ms. Minnella “goes above and beyond to keep her students learning. (She) stands out like a shining star. She’s an amazing teacher,” Mr. Andrade read.

Ms. Minnella is in her third year at Hugh Cole, in a profession that she sees as her calling.

“They make me laugh. They make me smile,” she said of the boys and girls she gets to know in her classroom and in the school.

When asked what advice she would give new teachers, she admitted that the profession can be challenging at times.

“Stay with it,” she said. “It’s tough in the beginning.”

At Mt. Hope High School, the smell of sawdust hung in the air as Ms. Lake was caught by surprise by a parade of well wishers for her Golden Apple.

Ms. Lake was nominated by a student, sophomore Mason Phillips, who views her as a role model in what some consider a non-traditional teaching role for a woman.

“It’s amazing. It’s an honor,” Ms. Lake uttered upon receiving the award.

When Ms. Lake began teaching industrial arts, her classes were made up entirely of boys. Now she has 15 girls learning skills in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.

“I think as teachers we are all role models,” she said of her influence over students.

But the reason she, and others like her, are effective is basic. “We just love it,” she said.

Both teachers also received a $250 grant from Hasbro Children’s Hospital to be used in their classrooms.

This isn't the regional district's first time hosting the awards. Melissa Velleca from Hugh Cole and Bonnie Pansa from Kickemuit Middle School are both past recipients of the Golden Apple Award.