Roanoke County elementary school teacher named Golden Apple winner

Leslie Saul teaches 5th grade at Back Creek Elementary School

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Roanoke County Public Schools has a new top teacher.

On Wednesday night, the Roanoke County Public Schools Education Foundation presented the Golden Apple Award to fifth-grade teacher Leslie Saul.

Saul teaches at Back Creek Elementary School on Bent Mountain Road.

This year, 88 teachers were nominated and 18 teachers were selected as semi-finalists.

Along with the Golden Apple, Saul receives a 2018 Subaru Forester for a year, donated by First Team Subaru, as well as a cash prize of $3,000.

Four other teachers were honored at Wednesday's ceremony.

This year's Red Apple winners are:

  • Elementary School: Cynthia Jones, first grade, Penn Forest Elementary School
  • Middle School: Lisa Riddle, English, Hidden Valley Middle School
  • High School: Alan Strecker, German, Northside High School

B.J. Joyce, an EMT instructor at the Burton Center for Arts & Technology received this year's Green Apple Award, which is given to a teacher who has taught for less than three years.

Each Red Apple Award winner also receives $1,500, while Joyce will receive $500 for his Green Apple Award.


About the Authors:

John Carlin co-anchors the 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts on WSLS 10.