Congratulations to Lynn Schnoor, third-grade teacher at Hucrest Elementary School; and Kathy Whittington, instructional assistant, also at Hucrest. These employees were presented with Crystal Apple Awards at the February 11 School Board meeting.

Here’s what their leaders had to say: 

Lynn Schnoor is a dedicated third-grade teacher at Hucrest. Lynn often flies under the radar, but her impact is undeniable. She is constantly building her teaching skills to better support students, offering a loving yet firm, guiding hand that moves them forward. Her classroom management is exceptional — she handles every challenge with grace, kindness, and understanding. Organized, disciplined, and deeply committed to student learning, Lynn has served our district for many years across multiple buildings, and her peppy, rhyming classroom culture brings joy, energy, and fun to learning every day.

Kathy’s kindness truly knows no bounds, and her love for our kiddos is evident in everything she does. She demonstrates unwavering patience, even in the most frustrating situations, and brings calm, dedication, and authenticity to her work. Kathy is an invaluable cornerstone among Hucrest’s instructional assistants and builds strong, caring relationships with students wherever she is — hallways, classrooms, outdoors, and beyond. She always has good ideas about how to improve systems, and she consistently dedicates herself to students with unconditional love. Hucrest is incredibly lucky to have her.