2026 Lee County Golden Apple Teacher: Quinn Schnabel

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

At Diplomat Middle School in Cape Coral, language Arts teacher Quinn Schnabel is a familiar face.

This marks her 25th year teaching at Diplomat.

“This has become my second family, my second home. We've been through a lot here,” she said.

Schnabel started at the school fresh out of college. She’s been there through 9/11, COVID and Hurricane Ian, which ripped the roof off the building.

She also had the opportunity to teach her three kids at the school, and now teaches alongside her husband and one of her daughters.

“I've shed tears here, I've laughed here,” Schnabel said. "This school is everything to me."

Schnabel’s passion for reading and writing started young. Now, she gets to live it every day.

“I would bury my nose in a book as a child,” she said, smiling. “Probably the only child to read Gone with the Wind in 3rd grade."

But it isn’t just her love for literature that stands out. Her love for her students leads the way.

“Ms. Schnabel is a very kind, caring, nurturing teacher. She doesn't raise her voice often, but she makes it direct her expectations of us,” student Daniel Perez said.

“She's been the golden standard for teaching for many, many years,” principal Jason Plucker said. "She's such a caring person. She's literally, if I could clone teachers, I would clone Mrs. Schnabel."

This marked her 9th year as a finalist for the Golden Apple. Finally, she’s getting the honor that she so obviously deserves. It’s a fitting way to celebrate 25 years.

While so much has happened over that time, one feeling in particular stands out.

“Just how grateful I am. Yup. Just how grateful I am for this whole experience,” Schnabel said.

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