During an Earth Day assembly on April 20 at Father Andrew White, S.J. School, in Leonardtown, Maryland, students sat cross-legged on the gym floor as teachers gathered at the front, preparing to pull down a large sheet of yellow butcher paper covered in handwritten reflections and a Scripture verse.
Painted across the center in green letters were the words from the Gospel of Luke: “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required.”
Moments later, the paper came down, revealing the surprise beneath it: fourth grade teacher Shannon Armsworthy had been named a 2026 Golden Apple Award winner.
The announcement, made by representatives from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington’s Catholic Schools Office, was met with applause and cheers as Armsworthy was recognized for her dedication to Catholic education, her leadership within the school community and her lasting impact on students.
The 10 Golden Apple Award-winning Catholic school teachers in the archdiocese will be recognized at a May 21 dinner, where they will be presented with a golden apple. They will also each receive a $5,000 check from the Donahue Family Foundation which sponsors the awards.
For Armsworthy, who began teaching in Catholic schools in Southern Maryland in 2005, the recognition reflects a vocation she says is central to her life and faith. Armsworthy, who earlier taught middle school English language arts and the fourth grade at St. John’s School in Hollywood, has taught at Father Andrew White School since 2022.
“Teaching is as natural as breathing,” she wrote in her nomination essay.
The Catholic school teacher said she is committed to educating the whole child and placing Christ at the center of both academic and personal development.
“In my classroom, much like my home, I use a whole child approach to teaching, with Christ at the center,” she wrote.
That approach is evident to her students.
“My teacher is awesome, kind, and very respectful to her students,” said Riley Mack, a fourth grader.
Students who are in her fourth grade class this year described a classroom environment where they feel supported and encouraged to grow.
“My favorite thing about being in Mrs. Armsworthy’s class is probably her explaining all the stuff when you don’t understand it,” said Paxton Hayden.
Mary Buzzell said Armsworthy helps students learn by guiding them rather than simply giving answers.
“She doesn’t give me the answer,” Mary said. “She just gives me hints.”
Colleagues and school leaders say that same attentiveness extends beyond academics.
Father Andrew White’s principal Janet Szoch described Armsworthy as a teacher who sets high expectations while providing the support students need to meet them. She noted that Armsworthy regularly creates engaging lessons, organizes field trips and brings in guest speakers to enrich learning.
Armsworthy also plays a leadership role within the school community, serving as team leader for intermediate grades and assisting with professional development initiatives. She is a member of the school’s Student Assistance Team, helping fellow teachers support students with learning challenges, and is known for her advocacy for students who need additional services.
She works closely with families, helping parents navigate the process of securing support for their children and ensuring each student has the opportunity to succeed.
Her commitment to students often extends beyond the classroom.
Szoch recalled moments when Armsworthy stepped in to meet students’ needs, including giving her own lunch to a student and arranging a special outing for a child on the autism spectrum, so he could attend a Baltimore Orioles game.
“She is an example of what it means to live out the Gospel by serving others in His name,” Szoch wrote.
That witness to faith is central to Armsworthy’s teaching.
Each day in her classroom begins with prayer, followed by a simple affirmation her students repeat together: “I am smart. I am loved. I am a child of God.”
She also teaches religion to fourth and fifth graders, guiding students through questions about faith while helping them understand Catholic teaching in a meaningful way.
Father David Beaubien, the pastor of St. Aloysius Parish in Leonardtown and the canonical administrator for Father Andrew White, S.J. School, praised Armsworthy for her caring and attentive manner toward her students.
“She maintains a positive and uplifting demeanor, calling her students to the high standards of Christian living in and outside the classroom,” he wrote.
In her nomination essay, Armsworthy wrote, “There is no place else I’d rather be than living out my vocation in the front of a Catholic school classroom.”
For her students, that sense of vocation is felt every day.
“She’s amazing, loving, and respectful,” said Jonah Weaver, a fourth grader.
As the applause settled following the surprise announcement, the recognition highlighted Armsworthy’s work in Catholic education, a vocation she has described as central to her life and faith.
“We aren’t called to do everything,” she wrote. “But we are called to bring Christ into everything we do.”
