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Donna Condee was so into working with her kindergarten students that she barely noticed some familiar, and not-so-familiar faces, enter her Tommie Barfield Elementary School classroom on Tuesday morning.

Surprise, and tears, came over her face as Mary Ann Gemmill, Collier County Public Schools chief administrative officer, presented her with the award for Collier County Public Schools Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

“I am humbled by the honor,” she said. “I want to thank you on behalf of my wonderful class and my wonderful team (of kindergarten teachers) who plan together and share resources,” she told Gemmill.

Beaming, she told her students, “I always tell you that I am a good teacher because you are such a good class.”

Earlier in the school year she was named a “Teacher of Distinction” as a nominee for the school district’s Golden Apple Award.

“I am extremely proud of this honor because it comes from my peers,” she said.

The selection process began with her nomination from the Tommie Barfield teaching staff. She was then judged on a county-wide basis. The Golden Apple Award nomination comes from parents and students.

Condee has been a teacher for 21 years, 16 with Tommie Barfield. She has taught kindergarten, first and second grades.

“I like teaching kindergarten,” she said. “The younger the better. I like getting in on the ground floor of development, teaching them the basic skills. It is such a thrill for me.”

Debbie Cooper, Tommie Barfield program specialist, said Condee is very receptive to the needs of her students and is in tune with where they are in their developmental stage.

Nadine O’Connell, school guidance counselor, said Condee has a very quiet demeanor, but is an expert in all the needs of her students and works well with her team of kindergarten teachers.

Condee is well aware of the competition for the county award.

“Because of my teacher of distinction award I had the opportunity to be with teachers from around the county and was surrounded by wonderful teachers,” she said. “I am never more deserving than them, or the teachers here (at Tommie Barfield).”

Westberry succinctly summed up Condee’s abilities by saying, “She’s amazing.”

The Middle School Teacher of the Year is Pamela Bailey of North Naples Middle School. The High School Teacher of the Year is Christina Burkow of Palmetto Ridge High School. The Postsecondary teacher of the year is Graciela Somoza of Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology.