Jill Wright and Robyn Miller win Grant County Crystal Apple Awards
By Logan Bagett on Tuesday, September 13th, 2022 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
PRAIRIE CITY & CANYON CITY – The Grant County Education Service District Crystal Apple Awards have been awarded, according to information from ESD Superintendent Robert Waltenburg. Congratulations to Jill Wright of Prairie City School District and Robyn Miller of Humbolt Elementary, who are the 2022-and-2023 Crystal Apple Award winners. Each of their congratulatory letters stated, “The candidate pool was exceptional this year with many deserving teachers nominated.”
The purpose of the award is to recognize the dedication and contributions of those teachers, specialists, paraprofessionals, classified staff, coaches, bus drivers, cooks and others who tirelessly work for the students.
For Robyn Miller, one nominating letter said, “She has become the teacher that people go to for advice, words of encouragement, ideas on how or what to do with a student that is struggling. She is an advocate for all children, not even limited to her own classroom. She is an educator that is truly in this career for her love of students…She goes the extra mile for her students, to make her classroom a warm and welcoming place, to provide an amazing education that meets the needs of the individuals in her classroom and all the time making it fun and teaching the love of learning.”
Another person writes, “[she] is the glue that holds us all together and keeps everyone positive and working hard to give their students the best learning environment”.
One nominating letter for Jill Wright included these words:
Jill has been a staple at Prairie City District for 27 years, most of them being in the preschool role. She is always wanting to better herself educationally so she can do a better job in her classroom. She has helped run our all-day preschool into a powerhouse with our enrollment rising every year and our students learning and knowing more…What I didn’t mention is that Jill is one of the most selfless people I have known. She will put the needs of other like the students and the team before hers every day. She loves her job and her students and that has shown for 27 years.
Another person wrote, “Jill was born to be a teacher and has had the love and respect of her students and their parents in every position she has held”.
Below are the criteria and a full description of the Crystal Apple Awards from the Grant County ESD:
(Release from Grant County Education Service District)
Grant County has some of the best educators in the State of Oregon and we want everyone to know about it! The five school districts and Grant County ESD are sponsoring the Grant County Crystal Apple Award. The purpose is to recognize the dedication and contributions of those teachers, specialists, paraprofessionals, classified staff, coaches, bus drivers, cooks and others who tirelessly work for our kids. There will be two categories of awards – one for licensed educators and one for staff who may not hold a teaching license, but nonetheless educate our students in other ways!
Nominations can come from staff, students, parents or other community members. To nominate an outstanding employee, please submit a letter of not more than two pages with the following information:
– Name of the nominee
– What attributes the nominee possesses that deserve recognition
– How the nominee has made a difference in the education and lives of children
– Contact information for the nominee
– The relationship between the nominee and the person making the nomination
– Any information that would help the selection committee in making a selection for the
Grant County Crystal Apple Award
Teachers and classified staff who work in a Grant County school district are eligible for this award. Nominations are due by June 30, 2022. Information that may influence the committee’s selection process includes leadership in the classroom, school, district and community; innovation in the classroom, school, district and community; and, implementation of best practices within the classroom, school, district and community.
Nominations may be sent to:
Grant County Crystal Apple Awards
c/o Robert Waltenburg, Superintendent
Grant County ESD
835A S. Canyon Blvd.
John Day, OR 97845
Electronic submissions may be sent to: waltenburgr@grantesd.k12.or.us Please include “Grant County Crystal Apple Award” in the subject line. Questions may be directed to any school administrator.
