Corvallis School District 2023 Golden Apple Awards
One of the driving forces in our district’s continued improvements is the commitment of our staff to help our students fulfill their potential. To celebrate the work of Corvallis School District educators, the Golden Apple Awards were established more than two decades ago by local philanthropist Mario Pastega through the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation.
Last month, the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation recognized four educators to celebrate their outstanding contributions to students and the school communities where they work. These awards celebrate that behind every successful student stands extraordinary educators.
Below are highlights from our nomination letters for this year’s recipients.
Leigh-Ann Russell, Special Education Teacher, Corvallis High School
Leigh-Ann’s work as SPED teacher, case manager, colleague, and student/family advocate epitomizes what the Golden Apple stands for. The parents of two CHS students say, “Ms. Russell is an amazing trauma-informed educator whose passion is to help her students be successful in the classroom and beyond!”
One of the traits that helps her work so well with her students is her ability to connect 1:1 and recognize that she is teaching her kids at the same time that they are teaching her and helping her to learn how to help them. She listens to students, and she is relentless in trying new approaches. Leigh-Ann is a lifelong learner and passionately committed to learning as many ways to support students as possible.
Leigh-Ann continually goes above and beyond to solve the mystery of individual student needs. She gets to know students on a personal level and uses their strengths to maximize positive outcomes. Leigh-Ann is not afraid to take on our most complex students, and she approaches them with compassion, tenacity, and curiosity. These traits positively impact her students and the culture of our school.
Liz Wieland, 6th-grade Science and Theater Arts Teacher, Cheldelin Middle School
Elizabeth is a wonderful educator who goes the extra mile for students, staff, and her school. I admire and appreciate Liz’s courage to face issues and work to fix them. Liz gets things done, and she cares about the work she does. Students love Liz and know she has their best interests at heart. Liz is extremely student-centered and provides a safe place for kids at our school. She is a huge student advocate and always works to see the best in her students. She works well with all kinds of kids and is the epitome of the warm demander for kids struggling with behavior challenges.
Liz has built CMS’s theater program from scratch. While this program serves all of our kids, it provides a special place for students who need a creative, family-like atmosphere. She goes above and beyond with the theater program, writing grants, using some of her own money, and teaching kids to take leadership roles of all kinds.
Liz brings creativity to her 6th-grade science classes and constantly looks for student-centered activities to bring science to life and meet the needs of different learners. She constantly contributes to school improvement projects by serving on multiple committees, including the theme team, the equity team, and the behavior committee. She is always planning events to improve school morale and help people feel recognized and valued. Liz is both an amazing teacher/student advocate and a teaching partner/collaborator.
Jenny Smith, Educational Assistant, College Hill High School
Jenny Smith is truly one of a kind. Her position title is Education Assistant, but she is so much more. “School mom, best tutor ever, graduation coordinator, student store manager, trusted friend, and someone who believes in me” are just some of the ways that kids talk about her on a daily basis. Jenny believes that each and every student is capable of something incredible and that they are all worthy of dignity, respect, and challenge. Walking through her classroom and hearing her talking with students is truly inspirational. I love it most when I hear her tell kids all the things that they can accomplish in the future.
She arrives at work daily full of hope for the future, passion for helping her students achieve, and a caring and flexible heart. Never one to get caught up in what cannot be done, Jenny is relentless in her pursuit of student success. She regularly has students who stay beyond the school day to wrestle through challenging math content and celebrate success. She is a marvel. When you see Jenny with students, it is clear they appreciate her, and she values them. She has a way of naming each of her students as strong, capable, insightful, kind, and valuable.
Jenny’s work extends well beyond her classroom as well. She is the College Hill graduation coordinator, planning and preparing a uniquely special celebration for students who have overcome incredible challenges and emerged as strong, talented, and kind. She is flexible, kind, intelligent, honest, willing to have hard conversations with kids, loves our staff, and is a pleasure to work beside. Her smile and warm greeting make my day, and I am so grateful to have her as a colleague.
David Abrams, 5th-grade Teacher, Adams Elementary School
There are incredible teachers throughout the Corvallis School District, but I am nominating David Abrams at Adams for the Golden Apple because of his dedication to and empathy for his students. He is passionate about making sure learning is accessible for all his students and varies his teaching styles to make sure everyone in his classroom has the opportunity to learn.
He is very thoughtful about what he says and how he says it and has a unique mix of humor, consideration, and kindness that motivates students navigating the preteen years. He makes it his mission to build his students up every day, and it’s no coincidence that his students leave his classroom glowing with self-confidence. David’s ability to meet students where they are without making them feel like they are standing out from the rest of his students is incredible.
Every day witnessing Mr. Abrams teach has been such an honor and privilege. Teaching is a natural outlet for David’s creative, caring, and compassionate personality. He is someone who regularly goes beyond himself to bring engaging instruction and deep learning to students from a variety of backgrounds. Students listen, trust, and connect with him. David’s calm, logical, and systematic approach to working with students is rare and much appreciated by all who work with him. What I find most valuable in David is his willingness to be an exemplary model of Teamwork, community, and shared listening for students and colleagues.
Congratulations to our 2022 Golden Apple Award recipients, and thank you to the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation for this celebration of our outstanding educators! You can watch the highlight video here.