101 Salem And Keizer Educators Nominated For the 2025 Crystal Apple Awards!

We Are Ready To Celebrate!

The communities of Salem and Keizer are ready to celebrate and honor the work of over 100 area educators as the 26th Annual Crystal Apple Awards return to recognize excellence in education.

Presented by the McLaran Leadership Foundation and the Salem-Area Chamber of Commerce, the 2025 awards will be held on May 29, 2025, at the Salem Convention Center.

Ticket Information

Viewing party room tickets will go on sale for $25 at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. The room will have a live stream of the awards upstairs, live music, hors d'oeuvres, beverage options for purchase and good vibes! Visit the website to purchase your tickets.

 This is the perfect place for extended families and friends to watch the event as well as schools and departments to gather together to cheer on their colleagues. 

Banquet room tickets sold out the evening of Monday, April 7, 2025

Those joining for the event are encouraged to dress up or rock their school gear, whatever you feel most comfortable in!

Nominee List

A full list of nominees is now available below.

• Daniel Adams, Office Manager, Eyre Elementary
• Bailey Anderson, Teacher, Hoover Elementary
• Lori Anderson, Teacher, West Salem High School
• Maria Araiza, Office Manager, Swegle Elementary
• Wendy Anderson, Counselor, South Salem High School
• Sherman Arndt, Teacher, South Salem High School
• Seth Auerbach, Teacher, Leslie Middle School
• Matthew Bailey, Teacher, Houck Middle School
• Linda Beardsley, Instructional Mentor, Stephens Middle School
• Megan Becker, Teacher, Swegle Elementary
• Gena Berning, Behavior Cadre, Hammond Elementary
• Kami Brack, Social Worker, Claggett Creek Middle School
• Rachelle Braiker, Teacher, Cummings Elementary
• Ari-Anna Boles, Teacher, Scott Elementary
• Jennifer Buckle, Teacher, Yoshikai Elementary
• Diana Clark, Special Education Instructional Assistant, Leslie Middle School
• Chris Cochran, Cadre Mentor, Mental Health and Social-Emotional Learning
• Heidi Coffey, Teacher, Waldo Middle School
• Patty Coffey, Behavior Cadre, Schirle Elementary
• McKenzie Cooley, Teacher, South Salem High School
• Kylee Daulton, Native Education Resource Facilitator, Instructional Services
• Nikki Davis Eldridge, Sign Language Interpreter, Salem Heights Elementary
• Marisa Deblase, Teacher, Brush College Elementary
• Shaun Dohman, Teacher, Sprague High School
• Allie Esperanza, Teacher, McKay High School
• Jenise Flower, Teacher, McKay High School
• Azucena Galeno-Perez, Bush Elementary
• Tyson Gilmour, Teacher, South Salem High School
• Justin Glaze, Teacher, South Salem High School
• Anjelica Gonzalez, Special Education Instructional Assistant, North Salem High School
• Tim Gregory, Custodian, South Salem High School
• Jaimie Hall, Teacher, Straub Middle School
• Madeleine Hannah, Teacher, West Salem High School
• Jean Hartline, Librarian, Eyre Elementary
• Jason Hastings, Teacher, North Salem High School
• Lisa Hoffert, Instructional Assistant, Scott Elementary
• Brian Hunter, Instructional Assistant, Gubser Elementary
• Robert Hunter, Teacher, Crossler Middle School
• Brenda Jaramillo Marungo, Instructional Assistant, Yoshikai Elementary 
• Diana Jones, Special Education Instructional Assistant, Leslie Middle School
• Kat Kem, Program Associate, Curriculum and Instruction
• Kristen King, Foundational Skills Specialist, Schirle Elementary
• Stephanie Kintz, Instructional Assistant, Wright Elementary
• Scott Kiser, Teacher, Myers Elementary
• Rebecca Kroon, Teacher, Keizer Elementary
• Joshua Kuor, Teacher, Auburn Elementary
• Haley Lapanowski, Teacher, Miller Elementary
• Carrie Litchfield, Teacher, Roberts High School
• Jeff Lutz, Teacher, Englewood Elementary
• Marvin Mason, Community Resource Specialist, Office of Student Equity, Access and Advancement
• Gladys Mata, Special Education Instructional Assistant, Highland Elementary 
• Laura Mata, Principal, Miller Elementary
• Joe Matot, Teacher, Crossler Middle School
• Melissa Miller, Counselor, McNary High School
• Marta Mitchell, Office Manager, Grant Community School
• Corina Moore, Vice Principal, Blanchet Catholic School
• Linda Munguia, Counselor, West Salem High School
• Kayly Muniz, Teacher, Highland Elementary
• Norma Murillo, Foundational Skills Specialist, Eyre Elementary
• Jaimie Murphy, Teacher, McNary High School
• Michelle Muth, Librarian, Wright Elementary
• Kappy Nicholson, Teacher, West Salem High School
• Lisa Oakes, Instructional Assistant, South Salem High School
• Karen Ochoa, Teacher, Sumpter Elementary
• Magaly Ortiz, Teacher, Eyre Elementary
• Kassandra Paige, Teacher, Auburn Elementary
• Rahfiq Parker, Behavior Intervention Trainer, McKay High School
• Emma Pederson, Special Education Instructional Assistant, Sumpter Elementary
• Mary Perez, Teacher and Special Education Case Manager, Meadowlark Day Treatment Center
• Yenisei Perez-Tovar, School Office Specialist, Lamb Elementary
• Sarah Peters, Teacher, Hammond Elementary
• Chelsea Pingel, Special Education Instructional Assistant, Highland Elementary
• Steve Phillips, Teacher, Auburn Elementary
• Damien Ramirez, Teacher, West Salem High School
• Edith Ramirez Martinez, Instructional Assistant, Swegle Elementary
• Kelsey Reese, Foundational Skills Specialist, Highland Elementary
• Lilia Reyes, Testing Coordinator, McKay High School
• Rhonda Rhodes, Principal, Career and Technical Education Center
• Michael Rockow, Teacher, Leslie Middle School
• Trevor Robinson, Teacher, Leslie Middle School
• Peter Rundquist, Teacher, Forest Ridge Elementary
• Jodi Sanderson, Behavior Specialist, Hayesville Elementary
• Adam Settell, Teacher, Walker Middle School
• Laura Shingleton, Teacher, Crossler Middle School
• Martha Specht, Teacher, Washington Elementary
• Brittany Stanley, School Office Specialist, Schirle Elementary
• Erin Stephenson, Special Education Instructional Assistant, Wright Elementary
• Allie Vandermolen, Teacher, Grant Community School
• Janet Vandiver, Teacher, West Salem High School
• Veronica Vela, Teacher, Scott Elementary
• Gabriela Veyna Martinez, Teacher, Washington
• Ana Villalobos, Office Manager, West Salem High School
• Cesar Villarreal, Campus Safety Specialist, Leslie Middle School
• Janet Villegas, School Office Specialist, EDGE
• Michael Weis, Teacher, West Salem High School
• Jason Whiteley, Teacher, West Salem High School
• Jennifer D. Wilson, Instructional Support Assistant, Parrish Middle School
• Brittany Wrighthouse, Special Education Instructional Assistant, Scott Elementary
• Whitney Wynter, Special Education Instructional Assistant, Forest Ridge Elementary
• Olivia Zuercher, Teacher, Crossler Middle School

Final Recipients Announcement

Final recipients of a 2025 Crystal Apple Award will be announced at the 26th annual event on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 7-9 p.m.