Local teachers get gold star — or apple

Three Hancock County teachers received Golden Apple awards from the Findlay Rotary Club Wednesday evening. Crystal Whipkey, an English as a second language teacher from Whittier Primary; Ryan Lindahl, an eighth-grade mathematics teacher from Glenwood Middle School; and Jason Wagner, an art educator at Findlay High School and Millstream Career Center were named finalists and awarded $2,500 to recognize their work throughout their careers. Whipkey received her bachelor of science degree in special education at Bowling Green State University and her master of arts in teaching English as a second language at the University of Findlay. Whipkey began her teaching career in 1991 and joined Findlay City Schools in 2007. She is a part of the Lighthouse, Building Level and Equity, Diversity, and Belonging Team at Findlay City Schools. A parent said of Whipkey in their recommendation letter: "Her passion for helping students where English was their second language was palpable … She patiently explained the ESL program to us and was eager to learn as much as she could about (our son) and his native country … I am confident she does this with all her students." Lindahl received his bachelor of science degree in interdisciplinary studies at the University of Toledo in 2001. He received his master of arts in mathematics education and master of science in curriculum and instruction from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah. Lindahl began his teaching career in 2008. He has served as the Mathematics Department Chair since 2014. He serves on the Building Leadership Team and the FCS Secondary Math Committee. A former student said of Lindahl in their nomination application: "Mr. Lindahl made our classes interesting. I remember being shocked my math teacher was rapping, but with all the songs we had, I retained so much of what I was taught." Wagner received his bachelor of fine arts in sculpture at the Columbus College of Art and Design and his master of science in education at the University of Findlay. Wagner joined the Findlay City School District in 2003 at Glenwood Middle School. He began working at Findlay High School in 2012. Wagner created a student-run business called Flow Print Co. at Millstream Career Center in fall 2022. A current student of Wagner's said in their recommendation letter: "Whether it be ceramics, digital media, or his new program at Millstream Career Center, Flow Studio, I learned not only a great deal about the course content, but a great deal about the process of learning and discovery, as well as the mutual respect between teacher and student that is the cornerstone of learning." The other semifinalists were as follows: Katie Kin, fourth-grade teacher at Bigelow Hill Intermediate; Stephanie Wiegand, preschool intervention specialist at Findlay City Schools Preschool; Angel Buck, English and language arts sixth-grade teacher at Glenwood Middle School; Brooke Meyer, sixth-grade teacher at Glenwood Middle School; Adam Flugga, English teacher at Arcadia Local Schools; and Tyler Smith, physics teacher at Findlay High School. Findlay Rotary accepted nominations for the award from students, parents, administrators, colleagues and the community-at-large. Nominees must have been a current teacher in the Findlay area or at a Hancock County school, and have had at least three years of experience.