Leadership, connection, and care sit at the center of Kristina Stone’s work at Crescent Valley High School. Now in her 14th year as a Health and Leadership teacher, Kristina helps students build confidence, character, and a sense of responsibility that reaches far beyond the classroom. She also advises Student Government and the National Honor Society, supporting students as they grow into thoughtful, engaged leaders within their school and community.
Kristina’s journey into education was shaped by the teachers who inspired her as a student. While she initially imagined becoming a Language Arts teacher, it was the passion and care of her high school educators, and the meaningful relationships formed through extracurricular activities, that ultimately guided her path. Seeing teachers invest in students both inside and outside the classroom sparked Kristina’s own passion for teaching leadership.
The Golden Apple Award marked a powerful and emotional moment in Kristina’s career, especially because the surprise took place in front of her family and class. Reflecting on the experience, she said, “This is such an honor. Receiving the award with my family there and in front of my leadership students was such a special surprise. A memory I will treasure in my career as an educator.”
Kristina would like to extend her heartfelt thanks to the Pastega Family and Foundation for recognizing educators and for their continued support of the Golden Apple awards.
We’d like to extend a special thank you to The Ball Studio for their longstanding support of the Golden Apple Awards and for consistently capturing such beautiful portraits of our recipients year after year.
