Golden Apple Award Recipients

Haiden Bowdre
Valley View Middle School 

Haiden Bowdre was nominated for the Golden Apple Award by a member of our staff. Haiden has been with our district as a full-time paraeducator at Valley View Middle School and has served in the ESY program since being hired in 2022. 

The Golden Apple Award recognizes staff members for their above and beyond service to help create an educational community that ignites a passion for learning where every student is known and empowered along with exemplifying Snohomish School District’s core values of being student-focused, cultivating a culture of belonging, and an equitable, caring environment for others to thrive. 

The nomination form expressed that Haiden exemplifies these qualities in the following ways: 

“Haiden works with students both in the life skills classroom and in the gen ed classroom with life skills students. While he works directly with specific students, Haiden notices and cares for all our students.” 

“He makes connections with students that he notices need additional support or attention in the classes in which he works.” 

“We have program at Valley View called Positive Behavior Referrals which gives adults the opportunity to honor students who are hard workers, kind to others, go out of their way to help etc. Haiden takes the time to honor students he sees being kind and supportive of other students.” 

“He goes out of his way to connect with kids and make them feel important.” 

“He also does a great job of holding students accountable and helping them learn in the classroom.” 

“We are so grateful for Haiden's care of support of Valley View students and for the kindness he brings to the Valley View community.” 

Haiden, we are proud to recognize you as the recipient of the Golden Apple Award. Thank you for all you do for our students, staff, families, schools, and community. Congratulations! 

Amanda Dobeck
Glacier Peak High School 

Amanda was nominated by her students for the Golden Apple Award. Amanda was hired in 2005 as a teacher at Snohomish High School and has also worked at AIM High School before transitioning to Glacier Peak High School. In addition to teaching AP U.S. History, she has also been a department chair, Link Crew advisor, has served in the high school credit recovery program, a Grizzly Cubs advisor, and has taught for the summer extended learning program. 

The Golden Apple Award recognizes staff members for their above and beyond service to help create an educational community that ignites a passion for learning where every student is known and empowered along with exemplifying Snohomish School District’s core values of being student-focused, cultivating a culture of belonging, and an equitable, caring environment for others to thrive. 

The nominations expressed that Amanda exemplifies these qualities in the following ways: 

“Mrs. Dobeck is always visibly passionate about the topics she teaches. Her assignments and grading are very thorough and prepares her students for the best.” 

“Mrs. Dobeck is an inspiration to students as she’s always pursuing growth in her own mindset. She makes her students feel included and important—not brushed to the side.” 

“When I grow up, I hope to be just like Mrs. Dobeck; someone who genuinely cares about the wellbeing of everyone, someone who inspires others to become the best version of themselves, and someone who always aspires to learn and grow in new ways.” 

“In every lesson, she is so excited and passionate about the topic that it rubs off on every student. She brings the class together with discussing sports and club events, keeping us well informed for the many activities around the school.” 

“She’s always happy to help with class work, eager to help us reach our full potential.” 

“She’s always happy to hear how your day is and always wants to know what you’ve been up to. She makes you feel seen and valued. She’s truly taught me how it’s okay if perfection isn’t achievable because she never once pushed perfection.” 

“Glacier Peak High School will never be the same without Mrs. Dobeck.”

Amanda, we are proud to recognize you as the recipient of the Golden Apple Award. Thank you for all you do for our students, staff, families, schools, and community. Congratulations! 

Michael McGee
Operations (Capital Projects, Custodial Services, Facility Use, Maintenance & Safety)

Michael McGee was nominated by staff members for the Golden Apple award. Micheal was hired as a custodial substitute in 2021 before being hired at Snohomish High School in May of 2022.

The Golden Apple Award recognizes staff members for their above and beyond service to help create an educational community that ignites a passion for learning where every student is known and empowered along with exemplifying Snohomish School District’s core values of being student-focused, cultivating a culture of belonging, and an equitable, caring environment for others to thrive.

“Michael's welcoming demeanor and servant leadership does not go unnoticed. He is kind and compassionate with staff, students, and the community. Each day he carries himself with happiness and joy to be at Snohomish High School.”

“Michael is more than just a coworker: he has been a mentor, coach, and friend. He takes the time to guide others through his responsibilities, ensuring he not only knows how to do his job well but also takes pride in it.”

“Michael's dedication to hard work is clear - he's always on task, often going above and beyond what is required. He is respectful, kind, polite, and takes pride in everything he does. He takes the extra step to make sure those he serves are pleased with his work.”

“He embodies what it means to be a great panther, a servant leader, and community member, often working double shifts to ensure students have what they need.”

“What truly sets him apart is his willingness to help. Whether it's stepping in to assist someone struggling or offering advice on how to tackle a tough job, Michael is always there, ready to lend a hand.”

“Beyond his work ethic, Michael is a colorful personality who brings life to the workplace. His positive energy and friendly demeanor make Snohomish High School a more enjoyable place for everyone he interacts with.”

“Michael’s dedication, helpfulness, and unique spirit truly make him deserving of this recognition. He not only exemplifies what it means to be a great employee but also how to be a supportive and positive influence on those around him.”

Michael, we are proud to recognize you as the recipient of the Golden Apple Award. Thank you for all you do for our students, staff, families, schools, and community. Congratulations! 

Meredith Spinner
Little Cedars Elementary

Meredith Spinner was nominated by a staff member and a parent/guardian for the Golden Apple award. Meredith was hired in 2016 as a kindergarten teacher at Riverview Elementary before moving to first grade at Little Cedars Elementary in 2017. She has served as the grade chair as well as the Digital Learning Leader and has achieved certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (National Boards).

The Golden Apple Award recognizes staff members for their above and beyond service to help create an educational community that ignites a passion for learning where every student is known and empowered along with exemplifying Snohomish School District’s core values of being student-focused, cultivating a culture of belonging, and an equitable, caring environment for others to thrive.

“Meredith Spinner is the epitome of an educator. She is continuously involved with professional learning through her personal endeavors, collaboration at the building and district level, and through her students by learning their individual needs and providing scaffolded support in a variety of ways.”

“Mrs. Spinner was dedicated throughout the whole year to make sure he was happy, healthy, and safe to give him the most optimal chance for learning all she had to teach him.”

“She finds every opportunity to build her skills, learn from others, and support her colleagues. While mentoring a student teacher, Mrs. Spinner made use of her time out of her classroom by collaborating with colleagues and providing intervention support to students in multiple classrooms.”

“Mrs. Spinner is a keen observer of all students and notices when children need additional support with fine motor, speech sounds, and social skills, just to name a few. She has endless ideas of intervention supports to implement and collaborates with colleagues to gain even more knowledge.”

“She collaborated with our MLL teacher to provide multi-tiered levels of support and instruction to not only her 1st graders, but also two 6th grade students who knew limited English. She included these students in her phonics groups to help them learn English, and built their confidence by placing them in leadership roles within her classroom by having them teach younger students Spanish.”

“Mrs. Spinner is an incredible mentor. I have grown as an educator from the ideas and support I have received from her.”

Meredith, we are proud to recognize you as the recipient of the Golden Apple Award. Thank you for all you do for our students, staff, families, schools, and community. Congratulations!