Sequim Gazette staff

Teachers can make a profound difference in their students’ lives and they should be honored for doing so.

That was the message Friday, Feb. 3, at the 20th Golden Apple Awards at Seattle’s Intiman Theatre Playhouse.

Among those honored was Pam Landoni, elementary professional development coordinator for the Sequim School District. After 28 years in the classroom educating elementary-school-age youths, Landoni now teaches teachers.

“I love education,” Landoni says. “There is always something to learn from colleagues and students.”

The show, in its entirety, airs on KCTS 9 at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 1; it repeats at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 8, and on Monday, April 16.

Landoni is the first Sequim educator to receive a Golden Apple Award; the Forks Alternative High School’s “Hypothesis” program won a Golden Apple in 1994.

More than four dozen co-workers, friends and family joined Landoni at the award show taping Friday night.

Other 2012 Golden Apple Award winners included:

• Larry Barilleau, teacher at Hamilton International Middle School (Seattle)

• Dan Brown, teacher at Okanogan High School

• Marcus Pimpleton, music director at Denny Middle School and Chief Sealth High School

• Valerie Stensland, kindergarten teacher at Dutch Hill Elementary School (Snohomish)

• George Thornton, teacher at Oroville High School

• Jennifer Wiley, principal at Franklin High School (Seattle)

• The College Mentor Program at Wenatchee High School

• Lincoln Center at Lincoln High School (Tacoma)

• Mercer Island High School; School of Excellence Award

• Garfield High School (Seattle); School of Excellence Award

• Beverly Mowrer, teacher at New Start High School (Burien); Mowrer received the Stanley W. McNaughton Award, named after the longtime executive of award sponsor PEMCO Insurance.

Hosted by KCTS 9’s Enrique Cerna, the Golden Apple Awards are designed to honor particular teachers, administrators, staffers, volunteers, organizations and programs serving students across Washington.

A panel of Golden Apple judges, including representatives from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Washington Education Association, the Washington State Parent Teacher Association, the Association of Washington School Principals and past Golden Apple Award honorees, evaluate nominees to determine winners.

The Golden Apple Awards are sponsored by KCTS 9 and funded by the PEMCO Foundation and School Employees Credit Union of Washington. Special funding for the 2011 Golden Apple School of Excellence Awards comes from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

For more information about the Golden Apple Awards, see KCTS9.org/goldenapple.