PENN TWP - The Red Apple Education Awards were presented Tuesday morning to nine teachers in Butler County who exemplify leadership and outstanding dedication to students and the community.

The awards were presented as part of the United Way of Butler County's annual meeting at the Butler Country Club. The United Way, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania State Education Association, presented the awards.

One outstanding teacher in each of the county's public school districts received an award. Awards also were presented to a worthy teacher at the county vocational-technical school and one for higher education in the county.

It is the first year for the vo-tech and a higher-education professional to be included in the awards.

Anyone could nominate candidates, who had to show dedication above and beyond the normal classroom setting, including involvement in school activities, leadership among their peers and activities in the community.

This year's Red Apple award winners are:

Mary Wildman - An accounting teacher in the Seneca Valley High School, Wildman helped coin the logo "Your future is our business."Her accounting students take the National Occupational Competency Test each year and score above the national and state averages every time. Wildman has been chair for the Business Technology Department at Seneca Valley, and sponsored the Youth Education Association.She is an honoree for the PA Teacher of Excellence Award. Wildman also is dedicated to autism awareness and support, serving as a guest speaker in advanced biology and psychology classes at Seneca Valley, as well as founding the Autism Society of Butler County. She has served on the autism task force for the state for two years, and assists with the Circle of Friends playgroup for children with disabilities at the Southwest Butler County YMCA.Her family was named "Autism Family of the Year" by the Bradley Center in 1999 and was profiled on "60 Minutes" in 2000.

Margaret "Peg" Harding - A sixth grade social studies teacher at Mars Middle School, Harding also is the student congress advisor, student judicial committee advisor, treasurer for the Mars Education Association and is organizer and chaperone for student trips to American history landmarks.She initiated the Veteran's Day ceremony at Mars Middle School, as well as Immigration Days, when students research their heritages.She teaches sixth graders about service to home, school and community, providing a bulletin board recording the hours of community service accumulated by students. Under her guidance, her students formed the Yellow Bow Co. in 1991, designing, taking orders and making yellow bows to honor men and women serving in the Persian Gulf. The $2 collected for each bow raised more than $1,000 for relatives of the 171st PA Air National Guard Refueling Wing.In 2003, a new group of students reopened the company and collected over $2,600 for T-shirts for children of the 171st. Other service projects recipients include the American Red Cross, Hands Across America, North Dakota Flood Victims, and hostage Terry Anderson's letter writing campaign for Lebanon hostages.Harding is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Butler County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Elementary Educator, Taft Fellowship for Government Seminar at Gannon University, Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year nominee, PA Geography Alliance recipient for the Geography Institute of IUP, and the PA Association of Student Councils District Advisor of the Year.She is an honorary crew member of the USS Mars, and is the video recorder for the Mars School District sports program. She retired this year after 35 years of teaching.

Theresa Miller - A reading specialist at Broad Street Elementary School in the Butler School District, Miller supervises the Fast Forward Reading Program, the Title I Computer lab after school and the evening computer lab for students and the community.With her help, Broad Street students read more than 30,000 books in the last year as part of the accelerated reading program. She authored the application that won Broad Street a National Blue Ribbon Award.Miller represents the district on the State Writing Assessment Advisory committee and the PA Standard Setting for Grade 3 PSSA committee and is district chairwoman of the Language Arts Quality Council for classroom teachers. She also coordinates the summer reading academy for Broad Street and Center Avenue elementary schools.She is the recipient of the MAC Grant for Creativity and Commitment to Excellence in Education. In the community, she is vice president of the board of directors of the Butler County Children's Center, is on the policy council for Head Start and is president of Soroptimist International of Butler County.

Marcella Isacco - A math teacher for Karns City High School, she leads a team of 9-12 grade math students who compete throughout the area demonstrating achievements in math.Isacco tutors students who need math help. At Karns City, she helped develop a new math curriculum for lower-level students and also is the drumline instructor for the marching band and Karns City Night Fire Percussion Ensemble.She was published in the Pennsylvania Council for Teachers of Mathematics. In the community, she works with the North Washington Flames and Flickers Marching Unit, teaches Sunday school and assists with the Teen Miss Butler County America Pageant.

Robert Heck - A science teacher at Moniteau Jr.-Sr. High School, he has instituted new courses in biology and advanced placement biology. He introduced students to new genetic breakthroughs in microarrays and stem cell research from sources including the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Harvard/MIT.Heck has helped many students earn scholarships at colleges. He is a contributor to the BSCS Biology Text "A Molecular Approach," is involved with the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science and is the founder of Project Adventure at Moniteau.Heck has gotten advanced technology equipment for Moniteau through a course at Indiana (Pa.) University and helped set up the first telecommunication course in German with Karns City and Moniteau.He has been president and treasurer of the Moniteau Education Association and is head of the science department. Heck was awarded the Butler County Conservation Teacher of the Year award for constructing a nature trail at Moniteau.He serves on the board of directors for the Glades Conservation Organization and through a Growing Greener grant, obtained and planted trees at the Marion Township Community Park. He participates in stream and bank cleanups and planting seedlings for the PA Game Commission.

Theresa Lombardo - A kindergarten teacher at Slippery Rock Elementary School, she helps students learn to read at least 100 words in their kindergarten year.She is described by parents as dedicated and willing to try new ideas. Lombardo attends conferences and workshops and does Internet research to learn new ways to meet students' needs.She received the Gift of Time award in 2000. At Slippery Rock, she promotes a team atmosphere, coordinating theme lunches for faculty and staff and encouraging students to participate in the annual food drive.In the community, Lombardo is president of the Laurel Girls' Basketball and Volleyball Boosters and teaches Sunday school at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, where she serves on the church council.

Brad Pflugh - A history teacher at Knoch High School, Pflugh also is department chairman for social studies.He is advisor to the history club, which in addition to volunteering at county historical sites, holds historical miniature simulations of war games after school. He wrote the curriculum for the American Civil War and 2nd AP Europe classes.Pflugh published a journal article on the Battle of Hanover and authored the book "Butler County in the American Civil War." Proceeds from that book benefit the Butler County Historical Society.In the community, he is a volunteer assistant curator at the Old Stone House and a regular community speaker on the Civil War. He also is a part-time professor for the Butler County Community College.

William Walters - The protective services instructor at the Butler County Vocational-Technical School, Walters has received multiple nominations from students who respect his leadership and team-building skills.Called a "hero" by his students, Walters' motto is "The only thing to fear is fear itself," seems appropriate as he leads students through courses on firefighting, emergency medical services and law enforcement. Walters is a former firefighter and EMT in Butler.He responds to emergencies at the school and teaches first aid to those who wish to learn. He produced a training video for automatic defibrillator usage.Walters is well known in county emergency services as a disaster coordinator and fire investigator. In the community, he is a volunteer firefighter for Lyndora Volunteer Fire Company and is a volunteer for a youth hockey team.

David Huseman - A professor of humanities/social sciences at Butler County Community College, he teaches courses in economics, government and education.He is the director of the Center for Economic Education, whose mission is to prepare students in grades K-12 to become prudent savers and investors, knowledgeable consumers and competent decision-makers. He has presented papers and workshops for the National Council on Economic Education, the PA Council of Social Studies and Pennsylvania Economic Association.At BC3, he was interim dean of humanities/social studies, served on numerous search committees and established the early childhood education program.In the community, he serves on the Board of Managers for the Butler County Family YMCA and formerly was treasurer of the YMCA board of directors. He has been the moderator for candidate forums and other seminars and speaks frequently at service club meetings. He is a board member of the BC3 Education Foundation.