Northwoods Elementary Physical Education teacher honored with Golden Apple award

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - It’s now week four of our Golden Apple awards. An opportunity for WEAU, the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation and local businesses to show their appreciation for educators and staff in the Eau Claire Area School District. Our next visit takes us to Northwoods Elementary School.

“The Golden Apple winner is a teacher nominated by their peers for the work that they are doing and I’m super excited to share Ms. Johnson is our recipient of the Golden Apple this year!”

Congratulations to Northwoods Physical Education teacher Erin Johnson for receiving the Golden Apple award. Thanks to Erin’s family for coming to celebrate in their mom’s, daughter and sister’s special day. Calling it the best job in the world, Erin says physical education is so important to kids because it not only builds confidence in our youth but helps them overcome the challenges they will face every day.

“If I can impact some of our youngest learners in those real impactful years that’s why I’m here at an elementary school. To really get into their head and their heart and to be a mentor to kids is why I’m here,” says Erin Johnson. “But physical education for me is such a unique environment to teach children, takes a village to raise a child, I know that as a mom and I know that as a teacher and to raise healthy and happy kids takes a tremendous amount of time and love and sacrifice.”

“Learn to move and move to learn and she really takes that to heart. And you can see it, our kids come to Phy Ed and they get, they’re skills and things that they learn in Phy Ed but just having their bodies more ready, gets their minds more ready, you know it just pays off all throughout the school,” adds Luke Stordahl, Northwoods Elementary principal.

Ms. Johnson and Northwoods Elementary school will each receive $500 from the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation and Erin will also receive a golden apple crystal at the awards banquet in April.

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