9 Tri-City teachers take home Crystal Apples. Late CTE leader also honored
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- ESD 123 honored nine regional teachers with 2026 Crystal Apples and $1,500 each.
- Awardees bring total to 299 Tri‑City educators recognized since 1999.
- ESD 123 posthumously honored CTE teacher Gerry Ringwood for decades of impact.
They’re role models, beloved parents, dedicated community volunteers — and, in the classroom, they’re compassionate and dedicated teachers.
On Thursday, nine public school teachers from around the Mid-Columbia were recognized as 2026 Crystal Apple Award winners at a special 28th annual ceremony hosted by ESD 123.
The prestigious award aims to recognize just a few of the tireless and extraordinary efforts of educators who make a positive, lasting impact on students. Winners show a knack for creativity, providing high quality instruction and fostering positive learning environments.
With the addition of this year’s award winners, a total 299 Tri-City educators will have been recognized with the Crystal Apple Award since its inception.
In addition to the glass-blown apple award, these educators also walked away with a $1,500 check, award certificates and other gifts.
ESD 123 Board Member Teri Kessie also dedicated the program’s first-ever posthumous award for special achievement to Gerry Ringwood, the former Tri-Tech Skills Center director and CTE advocate who died a year ago. Paul Randall, the school’s current director, accepted the award.
Kessie said Ringwood’s roots started in agriculture education in the Finley School District. For more than 40 years, he worked to serve students across southeastern Washington with hands-on education, and inspired countless teachers.
He worked with numerous industry leaders, educators and legislators to improve the state’s CTE programs for the better, Kessie said. He “listened carefully,” and was rare to speak, but when he did his words “carried experience, wisdom and an unwavering commitment to students.”
“It is truly an honor to stand before you and recognize the man whose life’s work quietly, steadily and profoundly changed the trajectory of thousands of educators and, yes, even farmers, in our community, in our region and across the state,” said Kessie, punctuating her speech by raising a commemorative bottle of wine.
2026 Crystal Apple Winners
The Crystal Apple Awards is a proud tradition in Southeastern Washington, and is one of the region’s most prestigious achievements for classroom educators.
Each winner is also submitted as a nominee to the Washington State Teacher of the Year program.
The Crystal Apple was founded in 1999 and sought to honor the education profession as a whole by identifying a few of the many regional educators who go the extra mile for students. The nonprofit Dream Builder’s Educational Foundation has managed the awards since 2010.
- Columbia (Walla Walla): Angie Boothe, math and English interventionist, Columbia Middle School.
- Finley: Sydney Freitag, English and STEM elective teacher, Finley Middle School.
- Kennewick: Kori Cannon, kindergarten teacher, Westgate Elementary School.
- Kiona-Benton City: Beth Kalinga, physical science teacher, Ki-Be Middle School.
- North Franklin: Charlie Dansie, agriculture science, mechanic and CDL teacher, Connell High School.
- Othello: Tonya Lewis, math teacher, Othello High School.
- Pasco: Elizabeth Copsey, special education and structured learning teacher, Maya Angelou Elementary School.
- Prosser: Sydney Charvet, 5th grade teacher, Heights Elementary School.
- Richland: Nicole Tamura, life skills teacher, Richland High School.
