INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — WISH-TV celebrates extraordinary teachers in central Indiana with the WISH-TV Golden Apple Award. It comes with a trophy, a school supply shopping spree to Teachers’ Treasures, and a surprise visit from the News 8 team with help from the Marion County Public Health Department.

• April’s winner will be announced on WISH-TV Daybreak on Friday morning!

This month’s Golden Apple Award winner is teaching kindergartners at Center Grove how to overcome obstacles. She’s fighting breast cancer and teamed up with one student to write a book to help kids for years to come.

Starting kindergarten can be tough. However, at Walnut Grove Elementary School, going to kindergarten is a little bit easier, thanks to one student and her teacher.

Giuliana Paris is 6 years old and is wrapping up her Kindergarten year. With some help, she wrote a book all about starting Kindergarten.

“Well I just got the idea and my mom said that’s a great idea,” Giuliana said. 

Her mom and teacher pitched in to help make the book come to life. An idea to help young kids who are first starting school.

“Kindergarten has been pretty good,” 6-year-old Benjamin Parker said. “Giuliana has a book that explains all that.”

Benjamin says the book has been fun for the whole class. But the students agree, it’s their teacher that’s made this year special.

“She’s a really good teacher,” he said.

Giuliana added, “She’s really good and like she’s the best teacher.”

The book also helped students when this teacher had her own journey this school year.

“She was diagnosed last year with breast cancer,” Assistant Principal Amy Clancy said.

It was a devastating diagnosis, that this teacher didn’t let stand in the way.

“I think of strength and just the physical and mental strength that she has held and has always held, I think. This journey and obstacle just kind of helped that grow and shine even more than it had before,” Clancy said.

“She’s an extremely strong person,” Stacie Osborn said. She is this teacher’s instructional assistant. “You know they can seem strong… but – you know-  you do see that vulnerable side too and you know you never want anyone to go through that.”

“I feel like I’ve learned more about her passion and her strength and how dedicated she is to serving kids,” Principal Heather Gant added. “I think her story sends a message that you can do anything even in hard times.”

“She is strong. She is dedicated and she’s passionate,” fellow Kindergarten teacher, Candice Veech said. “She loves teaching. She loves these kids… it was hard for her to be away.”

School leaders and fellow staff say this teacher is private and never wants to highlight her own obstacles.

She’s a mom to three daughters, forever focused on her family and the students in front of her.

Her regimented style helped the class to excel, even when she was away from school for treatments and the students felt she was always there.

Described as a well-oiled machine, kindergarten in this teacher’s class helps students train for their education journey.

At the same time, teachers here are training milestone moments.

“She created a team for the mini-marathon. And the mini-marathon is on the day of her original diagnosis and so it’s kind of like a full circle celebratory moment for her,” Veech said.

The school staff will walk with this teacher, one year to the day of the cancer diagnosis. A story of resilience worthy of celebration. That’s why Giuliana’s mom sent WISH-TV a nomination for the Golden Apple Award.

You can see the fun surprise and meet our April winner on Friday at 7:30 a.m. on Daybreak! You can also livestream the show.

Click here to watch other Golden Apple Award recipients.

To nominate a deserving teacher for next month’s Golden Apple Award, submit a detailed nomination here.