2025 Golden Apple Winner Announced

Tandem is proud to announce that Upper School history teacher Melissa Winder has been named our 2025 recipient of a Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching. Melissa began teaching 9th and 10th grade history at Tandem since 2016, has worked with the Learning Resource Center and is also a coach for our cross country and track teams at the varsity and Middle School levels. Melissa brings great energy to her interactive and engaging teaching, as well as an amazing sense of humor and fun in learning to her work with history students. She is responsible for bringing the annual Peeping into History projects to campus each year (history dioramas made with Peeps candies). Check out a CBS-19 report about this year's nominees.

Golden Apple Awards are presented each year by sponsor Richard L. Nunley (Better Living Building Supply and Cabinetry) to honor outstanding teachers in our community's schools. The awards are presented to teachers from both public and private schools (VAIS members) in Albemarle County and the city of Charlottesville. One winner is selected from each school, based upon parent and student nominations, which were solicited via form all winter. In addition to receiving a Golden Apple, each recipient also earns a grant of $500, which can be used for classroom materials or to support professional development. Golden Apple Award recipients will be honored in person in a ceremony in May. Congratulations, Melissa!