Santana Teacher Brooke Crocker Receives Crystal Apple Award

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Brooke Crocker, a teacher at , received the Crystal Apple Award from on Sunday evening.

This annual award honors a well-deserving teacher from the who has been a positive influence in studentsʼ lives. Seminary students from the Santee Stake were encouraged to nominate a teacher from their high school who is an outstanding educator and positive role model. She accepted the Crystal Apple Award from Santee Stake President, Richard Larson. The presentation was part of the annual Seminary Graduation for LDS students.

“Ever since I was five-years-old Iʼve wanted to be a teacher,” Crocker said.

She vividly remembers a day in elementary school where she traced her body on a big sheet of construction paper and labeled the cut-out with what she wanted to be when she grew up. Drawing a book in one hand, and a stick in the other, she had the passion to teach at an early age.

“I donʼt know why I had the stick, but I was only five,” she elaborated. “When I found out about this award, I thought about who my inspiration was and it is you, [the parents]. You entrust me with your most precious possessions everyday, your children, and I do my best to teach them.”

Crocker added, “The Crystal Apple is a very special award because students nominate their teachers. The greatest form of appreciation a teacher can receive is the respect of their students and I am honored and thrilled to have been selected to receive this award.” In listening to the students read their nominations, Crocker said, “I may not remember the exact words spoken by my students, but I will never forget how it made me feel sitting in the back of this room, listening to your words.”

A fifth generation San Diegan, Crocker received her Bachelor of Arts in History from UCSD, graduating with Honors. She earned her teaching credential at National University and furthered her education with a Masterʼs Degree in Education from San Diego State University. Teaching US History and AP US History since 1994, youʼll often find Crocker greeting her students at the door next to a cardboard cut-out of her favorite President, Teddy Roosevelt.

One student described her personality as “bubbly” and said, “She is always smiling and happy!” Another student wrote, “She is an exciting and brilliant teacher. When lecturing in front of the class, she uses random objects, such as a stapler, to represent the Dred Scott Decision.”

Not only does Crocker teach within the halls of Santana, she assists parents in their home schooling efforts by designing curriculum and providing professional evaluation of student work in both American Government and Economics. Likewise, Crocker is the Coach at Santana, with championships in 2006, 2010 and 2011 along with being honored as the Grossmont Districtʼs Coach of the Year for those same years. She has also served as the AP/Gate Coordinator since 2005.

No stranger to awards, Crocker was named in 2003, and received a Golden Apple Award in 1999 and 2007. In addition, UCSD recognized her in their Exceptional High School Teacher Program in 1999 and 2004.

In her “spare time,” Crocker loves to ride her horse, attend the theater - especially the Old Globe, and visit historic Balboa Park, one of her favorite places in San Diego. She is an avid, hometown and Chargers fan, but you may also catch her watching the History Channel or Top Chef on occasion.