At the top of their class

Three-year Hillcrest School teacher Stephanie Stephens is the Rookie of the Year.

Six top teachers in Marion County Public Schools recently received Golden Apples during surprise classroom visits, with five now vying to be named Marion County’s 2026 Teacher of the Year.

The Public Education Foundation of Marion County orchestrates the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program annually. The foundation also honors one new teacher as the Rookie Teacher of the Year and another worker as the District’s School-Related Employee of the Year, according to a MCPS news release.

An entourage including Interim Superintendent of Schools Danielle Brewer, Marion County School Board members, foundation Executive Director Meghan Magamoll and others, surprised the recipients in a two-day caravan.

Golden Apple recipients

Zanita Hendry

Hillcrest School – Zanita Hendry started with MCPS in 2015 and teaches students in grades 6-12 with exceptional needs. She is a graduate of Dunnellon High School and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree of interdisciplinary studies in education and social/behavioral science from the University of Central Florida. She was the 2023 Florida Adaptive Arts Educator of the Year.

Phyllis Hodges

Maplewood Elementary – Phyllis Hodges has 29 years of experience with MCPS, having joined the district in 1996 as an elementary classroom teacher. She continues in that position today and is also a content area specialist for math and science. Her bachelor’s degree in education comes from Florida Southern College.

William Lockley

North Marion Middle – William Lockley has 20 years of classroom experience, all teaching math to students at North Marion Middle. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from Saint Leo University, a Master of Science in mathematics education from Florida State University and a Doctorate of Education in educational leadership from the University of Florida.

Adjahnae Piner

Vanguard High School – Adjahnae Piner joined MCPS in 2015 and coordinates and teaches in the Future Educators Academy at Vanguard. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and a Master’s degree in educational leadership from Grand Canyon University. She is a doctoral candidate at Andersonville Theological Seminary.

Jamesha Gilliam

West Port High – Jamesha Gilliam is a West Port High graduate with 10 years of classroom experience. She joined MCPS in 2018 as an English/journalism teacher at West Port after earning her Bachelor of Arts in public relations from the University of Florida.

Rookie of the Year

While at Hillcrest School, the entourage also surprised three-year teacher Stephanie Stephens by naming her Marion County’s 2026 Rookie Teacher of the Year. Stephens joined MCPS in 2024 and, like all rookie teachers, has no more than three years of classroom teaching experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Brigham Young University-Idaho.

Stephanie Bulla

School-Related Employee of the Year

The foundation honored Stephanie Bulla, a registered nurse serving 3,400 students at five schools from her base school, Anthony Elementary. She joined MCPS in 2022 and is the first school nurse to be considered for this honor. Bulla was nominated because, “She embodies what it means to serve others with heart and purpose. Even during the most challenging days, she brings positivity and grace to her work,” according to her nominator.

Golden Apple Gala

The five Golden Apple recipients, Rookie Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year will all participate in the Golden Apple Gala at 7 p.m. Jan. 31, at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala. The event will air live on the MCPS YouTube channel (youtube.com/MarionCountyK12).

During the gala, one of the five finalists will be named Marion County’s 2026 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year and drive away in a new, pre-paid, three-year leased 2026 Genesis G70 luxury compact sedan thanks to Jenkins Auto Group.

To learn more, contact [email protected] or call (352) 671-4167.