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Schools achieve honor of mayor's Top Apples

The principals of 11 elementary, five middle and two high schools earn gifts and cash prizes from Mayor Rick Baker for their accomplishments.

By RITA FARLOW
Published August 27, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Mayor Rick Baker honored 18 city schools Tuesday for getting an A or increasing a letter grade on the state's school accountability report.

Established by the mayor's office last year, the Top Apple Awards recognize administrators from those schools, with prizes donated by local corporations and individuals.

"The best indicator of an achieving school is great leadership," Baker said. "This is for rewarding the individuals who are leading our schools to success."

Baker pointed to Mount Vernon Elementary as a "national model" for success. After receiving three D's in a row between 2000 and 2003, the school celebrated its third A in a row this year.

"We came last year, and it was such a pump-me-up for those who have worked so hard," Mount Vernon principal Peggy Pearson said before the ceremony.

Each school received a custom banner and an engraved apple trophy. Administrators received coupons for Ben & Jerry's ice cream, dinner for two at the Columbia Restaurant, two tickets to an American Stage production and a weekend for two at TradeWinds Island Resorts. This year, cash bonuses also were given - $2,500 to principals and $1,000 to assistant principals. Baker raised the $67,000 in bonuses through private donors.

Teresa Anderson, principal of Azalea Middle, was honored for her school's increase from a C to a B.

"The staff and students worked so hard to accomplish that goal, so we're very proud to have made that learning gain with our students," she said.

The cash bonus was "totally unexpected," Anderson said, and she hoped her teachers wouldn't feel overlooked. Administrators don't receive classroom stipends but still pay for student incidentals from their own pockets, Anderson and other principals said.

Anderson also pointed to increased earning opportunities for teachers who achieve national board certification, which principals are not eligible for, as well as raises recently approved by the School Board.

How does Anderson plan to spend the money? Part of it will certainly go back to her hardworking staff, she said.

[Last modified August 26, 2006, 20:44:53]