Eugene School District 4J

Fernell Lopez

Bilingual Human Services Coordinator

Kelly Middle School

Fernell Lopez, this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award who will retire at the end of the school year, has dedicated 30 years of service to Kelly Middle School, becoming a cornerstone of support for students, families and the broader community.

He does not simply support learning—he makes learning meaningful by integrating culture, music, and identity into students’ daily experiences. His work enhances not only academic engagement but also students’ sense of belonging and pride.

The impact he has had on the students and families at Kelly is profound. He’s personally delivered food, connected families to resources, and ensured that students could return to school with dignity and stability. He’s been the driving force behind Kelly’s annual Benito Juarez celebration, a vibrant community event that highlights cultural pride through dance, music, and performance. He’s shared his lifelong love of music and singing to students, introducing them to drums, ukulele, violin, and guitar, as well as traditional mariachi and indigenous Mexican instruments.

Among his many accomplishments, perhaps the most enduring may be Kelly's GANAS after-school program. GANAS – Spanish for desire, motivation or having the will to do things – steeps its 30 students in academics, cultural identity and leadership development. Through a partnership with the University of Oregon, the program coordinates mentors and tutors for students as well as exposure to higher education through campus visits. In his 30 years leading the program, nearly 1,000 middle schoolers as well as dozens of college students have benefitted. Even as retirement approaches, Lopez has worked to ensure the program will continue thriving long after his departure.

Nine years ago, Lopez was honored for educational excellence as a classified employee through the ACE Awards, the Golden Apple Awards’ predecessor. This summer, Lopez will leave Kelly and 4J not only with another trophy signifying educational excellence, but having established a legacy of ganas.

“For three decades, he has removed barriers, opened doors, and created opportunities that extend far beyond Kelly Middle School,” a nominator wrote of Lopez. “His impact can be seen in students who find their voice, families who find stability, and a community that is stronger because of his presence.”

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Life Skills Team

Edison Elementary School

Less than a year out of the gate, the Life Skills team at Edison Elementary School is drawing rave reviews from parents and colleagues as model collaborators who put student care and kindness at the center of everything they do.

It made this group of talented educators an easy choice to recognize with this year’s 4J Spotlight Award, which recognizes a team or individual who makes major contributions to the overall well-being and success of the district through service, teamwork and kindness.

The team of eight special education educational assistants – Marlie Annat, Randy Diemar, Leah Helfrich, Drew Hughes, Nate Lien, Olivia McDonald, Cody Santero and Kenzie Scout – led by special education teacher Chris Bickford emphatically checks each box.

The team’s level of trust in one another, attention to detail, patience and professionalism has earned praise from both parents and colleagues who say the team’s individualized care has helped students make big strides toward their growth, independence and self-confidence. Nominators say the team’s classroom is a structured yet nurturing environment where students feel safe, valued and understood.

Kindness is a core attribute of the group, reflected in their respectful and supportive relationships with colleagues, their thoughtful communication with parents, and their engagement with the wider school community. The team also has helped foster a deeper culture of inclusion at Edison by creating meaningful opportunities for Life Skills students to learn and connect alongside their peers throughout the school day.

One educator who nominated the group said one of her favorite times of the day is walking into the building just before 8:00 a.m. and greeting the Life Skills team as it waits joyfully for their students to arrive.

The joy the team exudes has proven to be contagious. A couple of parent nominators shared that they’ve seen more academic and social growth in their child under the team’s care this year than in any previous year.

“The impact they have had on her confidence and happiness cannot be overstated,” they wrote. “Even on days school is not in session, she crawls to the door wanting to get on the bus to go to school.”

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Mike Seager

Special Education Teacher

Roosevelt Middle School

Roosevelt Middle School’s Mike Seager can juggle while riding a unicycle. Even more impressive, however, is his mastery as a special education teacher that has elevated him to being named this year’s Golden Apple Award winner in the teacher and licensed specialist category.

Core to his work with students is his Academic Success Rubric, a comprehensive list of skills needed for them to be successful in the classroom. He asks students to rate themselves in various areas to set goals for themselves. It’s through this collaboration, nominators say, where students develop a sense of buy-in in their own education to help them be successful. Similarly, Seager delivers social skills instruction that is tailored to the interests and strengths of his students so it’s meaningful, relevant and engaging.

Seager has a calming effect and sense of fun that students naturally gravitate toward. Most mornings and after school, Seager’s classroom temporarily transforms into the Roosevelt Circus, where students can learn new things, such as practicing on a large collection of instruments or juggling. And there can be no circus without a magician, a role Seager fills adeptly with his ability to know exactly the right thing to do or say to support an upset student in a place where they feel safe and supported.

And even while juggling many demands, Seager is always prepared, whether to meet with parents to review special education plans, or to lead staff meetings with other members of Roosevelt’s special education team. Parents who nominated Seager said they leave meetings with him knowing their child is valued and cared for. Other teachers and administrators at Roosevelt deeply respect Seager’s insights in how to connect with students with disabilities in general classrooms.

A veteran educator with 28 years of experience who nominated Seager said “he may be the single most amazing and accomplished educator with whom I have ever had the pleasure to serve with on staff.”

Or as a parent nominee put it, “Mike deserves not just the Golden Apple Award, but the All-Time Best Example of How to be With People in the World Award.”

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Marshaun Tucker

Special Ed Educational Assistant

Roosevelt Middle School

Every day, Marshaun Tucker helps a Roosevelt Middle School student prepare to read the morning announcements over the school's PA system.

This role is just one of the many that Tucker, a special ed educational assistant less than a year into his career in K-12 education, has taken on to support students. It also exemplifies how his commitment to student success is evident throughout Roosevelt’s classrooms and hallways.

Tucker is a dependable and energetic team player, willing to assist with any task, whether that’s helping students in the classroom, providing accommodations for students with special education needs, or supervising the hallways and common areas during breaks and lunches. In working with students, Tucker is kind and considerate while also clearly communicating expectations and, at times, setting boundaries. Students and colleagues alike describe Tucker as patient, affirming and approachable, someone who helps students feel capable, respected and connected.

In addition, Tucker leads the school’s Black Student Union to provide a safe and supportive space for students that strengthen the school community by promoting inclusivity and engagement.

“Marshaun is an exceptional educational assistant,” his nominator wrote. “He consistently demonstrates dedication, kindness, and a deep commitment to student success. His ability to support students academically and socially makes him a valued member of our school community.”

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Teresa Myers

Assistant Principal

ECCO, EOA & GED Programs

Teresa Myers, this year’s Golden Apple Award winner in the administrator category, has a gift for putting herself in the shoes of others.

One moment, Myers, assistant principal for Early College & Career Options (ECCO), 4J’s alternative education program for high schoolers, can defuse a difficult situation with a student with unexpected humor. In another, she can bolster the morale of her building by writing a personalized thank-you note to every member of her educator team.

It’s this uncanny ability to read the room, as well as the need behind actions and words, that has elevated Myers as the linchpin of the program less than a year after stepping into the role. In addition to ECCO, Myers also helps administer the Eugene Online Academy and GED programs.

Notably, she’s won over what can be a tough room for administrators, leading a program for students who have struggled in traditional school settings and often lack trust in adults. She has done so by balancing compassion with accountability, helping students feel respected while remaining firm on her expectations for them.

Nominators say the trust and stability – not to mention a razor-sharp sense of humor – she has brought to ECCO has elevated the culture of the program dramatically. Just recently, a student who had left ECCO in a huff rather than comply with the student cellphone policy during instructional hours was back, chatting amicably with Myers in her office. And another student, who had shared a traumatic experience with Myers, later remarked to an educator who witnessed the exchange that Myers was the first school administrator she’s ever truly trusted.

“Quite simply, she is someone we can rely on,” wrote one of the many educators who nominated Myers for the award. “Our school community is more connected, more supported and more effective because of her leadership.”

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Tori Brooks

Special Ed Educational Assistant

Kennedy Middle School

If there are three words that encapsulate Tori Brooks, this year’s Golden Apple Award winner in the classified staff category, they are competence, compassion and reliability.

Educators depend on Brooks, a special ed educational assistant at Kennedy Middle School, without hesitation to support classroom behaviors and supplement academic instruction. Teachers often describe Brooks as more of a co-teacher than an educational assistant because of her initiative, adaptability and instructional skill.

Students and staff alike praise Brooks, whose mom teaches at Kennedy, as a calming, trusted presence who helps students feel safe, supported and capable of success. Brooks has won over students balancing kindness and a strong sense of accountability. They actively seek her out during breaks and lunches or even brief chats in the breezeway. There was even an impromptu rock-paper-scissor tournament held to settle an impasse among students. The prize to the winner? Having the honor of crafting the thank-you note for Brooks during Classified Employee Appreciation Week in March.

“In essence, Tori plays such an important role in helping our students be successful in class every day,” wrote the parents of a Kennedy student, among the 11 educators, parents and students who submitted testimonials for her nomination. “She has made such a difference in our son’s success at school, as well as for countless other students at Kennedy Middle School.”

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Ileah Contreras

Volunteer

Edison Elementary School

It didn’t take long for Ileah Contreras to make her impact felt at Edison Elementary School.

Contreras, this year’s Golden Apple Awards winner in the volunteer category, moved with her family to Eugene in August and immediately brought her professional expertise and compassion to the school that the younger of her two children attends.

An adapted physical education teacher in California, Contreras has worked closely with Edison and district staff to support the school community in a myriad of ways. She collaborates with general and special education teachers to build up the school’s Unified program, where students with and without intellectual disabilities participate together in sports. She serves as a mentor to fourth grade and Life Skills students, empowering them to take on leadership roles and support one another.

Contreras has done this while adeptly treading the line as a volunteer. She competently brings her professional experience and insights to bear for the benefit of Edison students while not overstepping her role.

“Ileah is more than a volunteer—she is a leader, advocate, mentor and connector,” said Michelle Dunn, 4J’s adapted physical education specialist who nominated and has worked closely with Contreras. “As a new member of our community, she has stepped in with confidence, compassion, and purpose, helping our programs not just function, but truly thrive.”

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