Edwards Elementary Teacher Patti Allen Receives Golden Apple Award

Congratulations to Edwards Elementary teacher, Patti Allen, on receiving the Golden Apple Award. The Golden Apple Award is a special recognition given to one teacher each month during the school year by WHO13 television in Des Moines. According to WHO13, they get over 50 nominations each month. Allen is the first teacher in the history of the award to receive it twice. She was nominated by Brooks Cunningham, with the help of his mother Brandy. 

“My eight-year-old loves to come home every day with his daily ‘would you rather’ question and new ASL signs he is learning,” said Brandy Cunningham. “Even our four-year-old engages in the conversation and is learning the signs alongside the rest of the family.” 

Allen has been teaching 3rd grade at Edwards for over a decade. Cunningham’s nomination form described Allen as an experienced educator who approaches every student and each new class year with the enthusiasm, care, and effort of a sparkly new teacher. 

“She is a steadfast supporter and encouraging spirit to all the little learners in her class,” adds Cunningham, “and exactly the angel of education that we needed this year!”

Not only does Allen layer sign language into her lessons, but her final moments of the school day are committed to helping students fill out an “Ask Me Abouts” page which outlines a few highlights of their day, one of her infamous “would you rather” questions, and a joke. These efforts work to provide not only meaningful conversation at home for her students, but excitement around learning. Allen will be recognized in an award segment, which will air on the NBC affiliate sometime in March.