Panama City - This week's Golden Apple Award winner is teacher at Rutherford High School in Springfield. Michael Creamer teaches AP English and Humanities at Rutherford high. He also teaches the Theory of Knowledge, a class not typically offered. Then again, his students say nothing about him is typical.

Set one foot inside Mr. Creamer's classroom and you know you are in a special place. In fact, you can smell it. Students pour themselves a cup of "joe" in his greek mythology class; somehow it seems to help discussion. The fact that he treats his students as equals creates an atmosphere of mutual respect. "We deal with higher level thinking in mythology and in AP some sophisticated ideas. It gives them an opportunity to think like adults and I think that is what it's about anyway, getting them ready to be adults," said Creamer.

Michael Jaredburke, the student who nominated Mr. Creamer, says he makes ancient myths pop off the page by retelling them in today's language, and making it entertaining. "He brings a humor to the class. He is able to incorporate not only the learning but a fascination with what he teaches," said Jaredburke.

"He really connects it to our lives and he explains it in a way that is relevant to us," said fellow student Jade Johnson. "He teaches depth and breadth. And the children just love the way he teaches," said Michael Kennedy, the principal at Rutherford. "I'm not here to entertain but if I can manage to teach them keep them entertained well all the better," said Mr. Creamer.