Christine Fernandez named Marion County's top teacher Christine Fernandez, a Shady Hill Elementary School kindergarten and first-grade MCPSonline teacher who uses puppets to engage her class, was named Marion County’s 2021 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year on Friday. Fernandez was honored at 8:35 p.m. Friday during the 31st annual Golden Apple Gala. With the honor, she will receive a three-year lease on a 2021 Hyundai Sonata from Jenkins Auto Group. Fernandez thanked her husband, Tony, and sons, Michael and Matthew, "for putting up with all those voices that I have done throughout the years." "I apologize for the kindergarten voice (that) sort of comes home with me sometimes," she said. "And also I want to thank all the teachers that I have come across. Through the years, each and every one of them have inspired me to be the teacher that I am today."