This year’s Golden Apple Awards nominees from Notre Dame Academy are Mrs. Andrea Gilson and Mrs. Amy Stover.

Gilson originally went to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for her Bachelor’s in Communications with a minor in Creative Writing, but then went to Concordia University to get her teaching degree.

“In the back of my mind, I always thought about being an English teacher and directing.  My decision to go back to school to be a teacher was the best decision I ever made,” said Gilson. This is her twelfth year teaching.

Stover has known since first grade that teaching was the right profession for her. As she went on to college, she took both Spanish and Business classes at U-Eau Claire and Saint Norbert’s. She enjoyed both and worked in business for ten years before she went on to teach. She went back to Saint Norbert’s to get her Spanish teaching certification.

“I believe that things happen for a reason and that my time working in the business world, of which many of those years was spent working with Schneider’s Mexico Division, was a necessary part of my journey to becoming the teacher I am today,” said Stover.

Both teachers wanted to teach high school because of the impact they could have on a student this age.

“High school is an important stepping stone for students as they discover who they are, where they want to go, and what they are passionate about.  Being a small part of that journey, helping to guide, direct and keep them on track to becoming the best they can be is both challenging and rewarding,” said Stover.

“It is rewarding being able to witness students making decisions about the future and hear about their successes,” Gilson said.

Although teaching can be rewarding, it comes with its difficulties as well. Stover’s least favorite part is the grading, but Gilson finds it difficult to plan when she isn’t able to be there.

“It is difficult to miss a day or even an hour of work,” said Gilson. “Teaching is a very humbling profession.  One hour the class can totally ‘get’ what you are teaching, and the next hour class might have a different perspective.  Every hour is different and you have to always be on your toes and flexible.”

Even though there may be bad days, both teachers wouldn’t have it any other way. Both are inspired by the success of their students.

“There are are some lines in Mother Theresa’s Do it Anyway prayer that keep me going that I hope, also, give my students perspective:  ‘…The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway,’” said Stover.

Notre Dame is the perfect community for both of the teachers, and the school wouldn’t be the same without them.

“When I enter the doors of NDA, I feel a sense of fulfillment and enthusiasm,” said Gilson, a graduate of the school and its stage productions.

Stover loves the students she comes across.

“The students that cross my path, many make me smile and help me become a better teacher and person,” said Stover.