2024 Apple Award Winners

The Foundation for Douglas County Schools annually honors exceptional DCSD educators and staff who are inspiring a love of learning in their students and trailblazing extraordinary innovation in our schools.

Thousands of nominations are submitted every year. Just five receive an Apple Award.

View all nominees

Classified Employee of the Year

Lauri Simington-Echer

Secretary to the Assistant Principal, Chaparral High School

Lauri Simington-Echer is the Classified Employee of the Year and also the Secretary to Assistant Principal Craig Bowman at Chaparral High School. Lauri is involved in almost every aspect of life at Chaparral. She is in charge of marketing the high school, managing communications to the families and students, and also helps to organize Sources of Strength. Lauri works diligently to create the best learning environment for the staff and the students and that is why she is the 2024 Classified Employee of the Year.

Department Employee of the Year

Michelle Lewis

Gifted Education Team Lead

Michelle Lewis is the 2024 Department Employee of the Year and for good reason. Michelle travels all across the district to help identify students who have advanced potential in the arts. She uses many different strategies with students who may need extra support and one of the ways is through the use of games. The work Michelle is doing in DCSD classrooms is having a lasting impact here and across the country.

Elementary Educator of the Year

Jessica Mason

First Grade Teacher, North Star Academy

Jessica Mason is a first-grade teacher at North Star Academy and the 2024 Elementary Educator of the Year. She is known as a passionate, funny, and supportive educator and co-worker. Jessica’s love for working with the young learners can be seen and felt as soon as you walk into her classroom. She loves to sing and often incorporates movement and song into her lessons. Jessica takes great pride in helping her students develop a love for learning.

Secondary Educator of the Year

Damon Larson

Librarian, Chaparral High School

Damon Larson is the 2024 Secondary Educator of the Year and has been with Chaparral High School since the doors opened. He serves as a research coach and also a librarian. Damon is a friend to all the students at Chaparral and knows them by name. He works hard to make sure every student who walks into the library feels seen and acknowledged. If you need a book recommendation, help with a research project, or just someone to confide in, Damon is more than willing to give you his time.

District Administrator of the Year

Dr. Jenny Brown

Principal, Gold Rush Elementary School

Dr. Jenny Brown, Principal of Gold Rush Elementary School, is the 2024 District Administrator of the Year. Dr. Brown has served her families and students for the past 12 years. She is rarely in her office and can often be found in the classrooms connecting and observing the students who attend her school. Dr. Brown is known as someone who leads by example and is willing to perform any task to help her staff and students. She knows all of her students by name and works tirelessly to be a part of every child’s education.

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