Two Moore County public school educators were recently honored at the Annual Moore County Chamber of Commerce Banquet when they were awarded the 2007 Golden Apple Awards.

The 2007 Golden Apple winner was Joseph Salmon, a fifth-grade math and science teacher at Aberdeen Elementary School.

The Golden Apple program is a cooperative effort of the Moore County Public Education Foundation, the Moore County Chamber of Commerce and Progress Energy.

The three sponsoring organizations are committed to the belief that quality education is important to the community's economic growth. The Golden Apple program was established to recognize, support and encourage superior and innovative educational efforts in the Moore County school system.

Salmon was honored for his innovative teaching methods that integrate technology with the curriculum. As the "groundbreaker" for using the new technologies at Aberdeen Elementary School, Salmon has inspired innovation in other teachers.

"He is not afraid to try new technology and embraces it in all teaching areas. Whether it is a math class using Smart Board tools from the educational gallery or science students using clickers to test their knowledge of vocabulary terms, Salmon's fifth-graders are always engaged in learning.

Salmon was raised in Moore County from the age of 9 when his family moved here from Pennsylvania.

He was educated in Moore County Schools and is a graduate of Pinecrest. After an 18-year career in the Navy, he returned to Moore County and attended Sandhills Community College. After that, he attended UNC Pembroke and earned his bachelor's degree in education (K-6). He has been teaching fifth-graders at Aberdeen Elementary School for eight years.

Salmon received a $1,000 check and a plaque from The Public Education Foundation. Aberdeen Elementary School Principal Debbie Warren received a plaque to be displayed at her school.

The runner-up for the 2007 Golden Apple was Gayge Fritz, a first-grade teacher at Cameron Elementary School. She received a check for $500 and a plaque. Fritz was also Teacher of The Year at her school.

Robin Calcutt and Tracy Cropley received the Golden Apple Award last year.