Golden Apple Awards Banquet celebrates local teachers

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Some of the best teachers in the Tennessee Valley got honored during our Golden Apple Awards banquet at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

Over the school year, we have celebrated 30 teachers that you nominated.

Jon Johnson of the Howard School is our first runner up.

He helped bring baseball back to Howard.

Heather Linderman is our 2nd finalist.

She’s a teacher at Ringgold Primary who makes sure her students show each other kindness.

Our 3rd finalist is Jacqueline Johnson from North Murray High School.

She works hard to create a safe learning environment for the students.

The 2017 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year is Rainey Horne of East Ridge High School.

Horne is the auto shop teacher at East Ridge High School.

But he does so much more than that.

Whether it’s helping his students with things like bills, or clothes, or working long hours, Mr. Horne does it all.

He was honored to win Teacher of the Year.

“It took me 6 years to get out of High School, but I tell my kids that. And I had a lot of teachers give up on me, and I can’t give up on these kids. I didn’t get this award. My kids got this award.”

Our sponsor, Food City, and News 12 Now are proud of all of our winners.

Congratulations to everyone.