2026 Golden Apple Award Grand Finale INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — WISH-TV is Indiana’s education station, and, during the 2025-26 school year, News 8 honored nine extraordinary educators in central Indiana with the Golden Apple Award. Each Golden Apple Award winner is selected from nominatio ns submitted by students, teachers, and community members. The award comes with a $500 cash prize from Hensley Legal Group, PC, a school supply shopping spree to Teachers’ Treasures, and a surprise visit from the News 8 team with help from Hensley Legal Group, PC. Most of the teachers from the Class of 2026 joined the WISH-TV studios Tuesday night for the Golden Apple Grand Finale Special. One teacher was also honored as the Grand Finale Award winner and received a year-end trophy and another $500 cash prize from Hensley Legal Group, PC. View previous Golden Apple coverage here Meet the Grand Finale winner: Gema Camarasa – Lawrence North High School September’s Golden Apple Award winner is Ms. Gema Camarasa. She goes by Sita and has been teaching in the Spanish Immersion Program in the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township for 20 years. Recently, her students started calling her the “TikTok Teacher.” At Lawrence North High School, the Spanish Immersion program is trending. But the students will tell you, only one teacher is going viral. “She loves TikTok,” Eleanor Ising said.  In her 25 years of teaching, the staff says Camarasa meets students where they are. “(They build) those connections, because that’s something that they like to do,” fellow Spanish teacher Sydni Jennings said. “She says, ‘Hey, let’s make a TikTok.’ They’ll try to teach her the dance. It’s a crazy, funny process, but it’s beautiful.” Jennings won the September Golden Apple award last year. In fact, we talked to Sita then because she was Jenning’s teacher growing up and inspired her to get into education. Now the two teach Spanish at Lawrence North. “Finally, she’s getting the recognition that she deserves,” Jennings said about Sita. “She’s just so deserving. You know, she gives so much love.” Jennings was one of 37 people to nominate Sita for the award. Most of them were students. Meet the Golden Apple Class of 2025 October | Kelsey Sebastian | Gold Academy October’s Golden Apple Award winner is Miss Kelsey Sebastian. She’s a sixth grade English language arts teacher in the Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township at Gold Academy in Indianapolis. While it’s only her third year teaching, education is in her blood, and her students say she makes learning fun. At Gold Academy Elementary School, there’s a gold standard when it comes to education. The students are gold, the staff is gold, and this month, there is a “Gold”-en Apple Award-winning teacher. “Dedicated to her craft. …she just has a heart for kids and students and wants to make a difference in the world,” fellow sixth-grade teacher Eric Schock said. Principal Janica Humphries agrees. “She stands out because she’s very caring. She’s very student-centered, and so the students warm up to her really easily. They love going into her classroom. She takes that time to really build those positive relationships with the students,” Humphries said. November | Catherine Duda | Westfield High School November’s Golden Apple Award winner is Miss Catherine Duda. She’s a family and consumer science teacher in Westfield Washington Schools. At Westfield High School students are learning the academic essentials like math, science and language arts. However, one teacher is bringing the bedrock of life skills to life. “Everything she teaches and the foundation of what you learn in each one of her classes is something you can apply to your day-to-day life, whether that’s food safety, cleaning safety, or just relationship skills. It’s super useful and super applicable to every single day,” Jaden Atha, 17, said. “(She show’s us) how to communicate with other people and be respectful and just hearing that from her made me feel like, ‘Oh, if she can do, I can do it,’” 17-year old Bjork Millard added. Miss Duda teaches interpersonal relationships, nutrition and wellness, and principles of childhood education to high school students. She’s also an example of what being a successful adult looks like and she’s a trained chef. December | Chelsea English | Shortridge High School December’s Golden Apple Award winner is Miss Chelsea English. She’s an Indianapolis Public Schools social worker at Shortridge High School. Students and staff will tell you she is nothing short of a miracle worker. “Miss English just takes that extra step to make us feel so heard and seen and valued. It’s just amazing,” 16-year-old Darrick Colon said. Daily, she works with students to solve emotional and physical needs. She tackles homelessness, pregnancies, loss, and conflict, all while encouraging kids to help each other. 17-year old Sweet Night oversees more than 5,000 students as the leader of the Key Club in Indiana. Miss English is the advisor of the program. “Miss English really strives to do her best to encourage students to be servant leaders, and what that means is leaders that not only lead but also lead through caring for others, giving back to others, and overall just sacrificing for others for the better,” Sweet explained. Miss English gives back by running a community food pantry and clothing drive from the school. She leads Culture and Climate at the school to create a positive environment for students and staff. She also leads the Girls Group to help young women support each other.  After losing three of her students to gun violence, Miss English created the ‘SHINE’ project. SHINE stands for safety, health, inclusion, and nurturing environment. WISH-TV featured her work combating violence over the summer. January | Matt McArdle | Christel House Academy South January’s Golden Apple Award winner is Mr. Matt McArdle. He was a teacher’s aide at Christel House Academy South and specialized in helping special education students. However, he was known for helping everyone at the school. “He’s funny, and well, he’s really loud,” 8-year-old 3rd grader Sofia Muneton said. “He’s really loud in the hallway, but like in a funny way.” He worked at the school for 12 years, and students agreed “he’s the best.” News 8 spoke with 12 students. Each one described Mr. McArdle as nice, kind, and funny. Students say he just gets them. Mr. McArdle and the school parted ways after the award. February | Rick Wedlow | Lawrence North High School February’s Golden Apple Award winner is Mr. Rick Wedlow. He teaches the AVID program at Lawrence North High School. It stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. Basically, he helps kids prepare for college and life after graduation. In fact, his motto is “Keep chopping wood,” encouraging students to keep putting in the work every day. “I can say this for everyone. He’s more than just a teacher. He’s like your best friend, basically. He purposefully builds a personal connection with every single student,”  17-year-old Rowan Rebennack said. He says Wedlow fosters a college-going culture, from financial aid to campus safety. He teaches teenagers how to take notes, get organized, and create resumes. But his first step is getting to know each student. “He definitely deserves it,” 17-year-old Belinda Ramirez said, holding back tears. “Always when I come to him with troubles in classes and stuff, he’s the guy that really calms me down. ‘He’s like, it’s going to be ok… You’ll figure it out.’  She went on to say, “I think he makes a difference in (everybody’s) lives. Like, he’s just, you look forward to going into his class.” March | Katie Hagerty | Fishers High School March’s Golden Apple Award winner is Miss Katie Hagerty. She is a science teacher at Fishers High School and is also a coach outside of the classroom. Her students say she makes tough subjects fun. Walk into Hagerty’s classroom, and you will notice the notes on the wall. Letters expressing admiration and gratitude from students emphasize the impact she is making from the science lab to the track. Proof that in this high school experiment, one teacher makes subjects – loved and loathed – a whole lot more fun. Hagerty teaches Earth science, geology, and the physics portion of ICP, or Integrated Chemistry and Physics. She has mastered the science of making it relatable to the teenagers in her class. “I’m not a chemistry and physics lover,” Sage Keffaber, 15, said. She’s a sophomore who loves biology and genetics, but not physics. Still, Miss Hagerty makes it an atmosphere she enjoys. “She definitely makes it more tolerable, because the labs are so interactive.” Gabriel Pyle, 17, agreed. “Recently, we did a lab that involved a Hot Wheels toy, and we had to measure the velocity and acceleration of it. And using that Hot Wheels toy, it made it a lot easier to understand how velocity and acceleration work.” April | Liz Retana | Purdue Polytechnic High School – Broad Ripple April’s Golden Apple Award winner is Miss Liz Retana, but everyone calls her Coach Liz. She’s a special education teacher at Purdue Polytechnic High School – Broad Ripple, where teachers are called coaches because they coach students through school – and life. That includes the good moments and the tough ones. Coach Liz is an Exceptional Learner’s Coach who does this with exceptional care. She also helped the school heal when something tragic happened earlier this year. “Liz is one of those people who, when you need emotional support, you go to her. Because she is so kind and generous with herself,” Laura Smith, the school’s operations manager, said. “She is probably the most compassionate person in the building. She loves every one of her students. She lives and breathes with them. She does things inside school, outside school, for them. I’ve not met anyone since I’ve worked in a school who gives more of herself to her students.” She definitely brings a light,” 16-year-old Kailey Rodriguez said. “I feel like she’s just the perfect balance of what a teacher needs to be.” That balance was felt when tragedy struck earlier this year. In December, 16-year-old Robert “RJ” Williams went missing. He was autistic and one of Coach Liz’s students. In early January, his body was recovered from the White River. “When we went through this tragedy as a school community, it was hard on everyone. It was really hard on her because she had a very close relationship with the student. For her to be able to show up so May | Claire Dillehay | Jeremiah Gray Elementary School May’s Golden Apple Award winner is Ms. Claire Dillehay. She’s an art teacher in Perry Township who has mastered the art of education. She brings creativity to the classroom and helps students truly become artists. At Jeremiah Gray Elementary School, students in first through fifth grade find inspiration in the halls, on the walls, and in each other. The class is a blank canvas for creativity to soar. Thanks in part to an art teacher who is out of this world – Dillehay. Lincoln Storey, 9, says art with Dillehay is his favorite subject. “You get to make stuff and draw,” he mused. Third-grade teacher Susan Decamp works with Dillehay, and was one of the teachers who nominated her. She says her students would draw all day if they could, they are always so excited after art class. “The way they start their class is, ‘Hello, my most amazing artist!’ And then they answer, ‘Hello, my most amazing art teacher!’ She has instilled in all of them that not only is she an artist, but they are artists, as well.” Along with getting kids ready for a huge art showcase in the district, she motivates students outside of class. She’s a founding member of the Beech Grove Artist Collective, bringing First Friday art walks and art festivals to the community. 2026 Golden Apple Award winners May: Perry Township teacher transforms students into artists April: Purdue Polytechnic coach creates safe space and healing environment for students March: Fishers science teacher shapes students through science and sports February: Lawrence North AVID teacher prepares students for life after graduation January: Christel House Academy South celebrates beloved teacher’s aide with Golden Apple Award December: IPS social worker helps students ‘SHINE’ through program and service November: Chef turned educator teaches life skills in Westfield High School October: Gold Academy teacher shines bright in Decatur Township September: ‘TikTok Teacher’ inspires Spanish Immersion students to become educators Click here to see Golden Apple Award winners from years past. PHOTOS | Golden Apple Grand Finale Special A collage of the 2025 Golden Apple Award winners. (WISH Photo) ...read more read less