Coronado Middle and High School teacher Crystal Gallegos is living proof good teaching doesn’t come with years of experience, continuing education and meeting faux state standards. It comes from a desire to teach, pure and simple.
Gallegos is the second Golden Apple Award winner from Rio Arriba, the first from her Jemez Mountains School District. Gallegos was one of six teachers statewide to win the Golden Apple Award out of a pool of 80 nominees. The award is presented annually by the Golden Apple Foundation to teachers who show excellence in their field.
The last Rio Arriba County teacher to win it was Española Valley High School English teacher Maria Reickenberg in 2005.
We can only imagine what it’s like to be picked from 80 other great teachers around the state. Some of them with decades of experience, some big budgets, teachers aids and minimal extra-curricular activities to mentor. It just came down to her desire to teach, her connection with her hometown and her youthful thinking and innovations.
Gallegos is what is right in education today. She wants to do a job for the love of the work, not the money, nor the credit or glory. A lot of teachers can learn a lot from her.
We’re fortunate to have her in our northern school district. And it’s great she was recognized by her peers and the Foundation.