What some might consider Salem’s version of the Oscars takes place Friday for the 24th annual presentation of the Crystal Apple Awards.
The event at the Salem Convention Center puts the spotlight on 89 people nominated for their work in the Salem-Keizer School District and at area private and charter schools. The winners of the coveted Crystal Apple will be announced in the evening program, which has long been sold out.
But those without tickets can still get in on the action.
Nominees will head into the event along a red carpet where relatives, supporters and the curious can gather.
That grand entry is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m., with nominees arranged in alphabetical order by the school or district department where they work. The schedule:
5:30 – 5:45 p.m.: Auburn – CTEC
5:45 – 6:00 p.m.: Early Childhood Education – Harritt
6:00 – 6:15 p.m.: Highland – McNary
6:15 – 6:30 p.m.: Migrant Education – Scott
6:30 – 6:45 p.m.: South Salem – Sumpter
6:45 – 7:00 p.m.: Swegle – Yoshikai
The dinner and award ceremony starts at 7 p.m. with Zach DuFault, a South Salem High School graduate and local actor, serving as emcee. The convention center is located at 200 Commercial St. S.E.
The event will be broadcast live and then available in a recorded format through Capital Community Media.
The live show can be watched with this link or watched anytime on demand with this link.
The event is presented by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the McLaran Leadership Foundation.
2023 nominees:
Irma Aguilar, Support Services and Recruitment Specialist, SKPS Migrant Education
Jeanette Aguirre, Counselor, Roberts High School
Erin Ahlquist, Counselor, SKPS Early Childhood
Harry Ahn, Teacher, Blanchet Catholic School
Favi Baez, Special Education Instructional Assistant, Grant Community School
Merri Bath-McDonald, Counselor, McKay High School
Gilberto Bedolla, Special Education Teacher, South Salem High School
Patrick Bertsch, Special Education Instructional Assistant, Leslie Middle School
Jessica Beus, Instructional Mentor, Swegle Elementary School
Alyssa Bond, Teacher, North Salem High School
Kathy Bowers, Teacher, Candalaria Elementary School
Christine Bowlby, Principal, EDGE Program
Tony Brandt, Special Education Teacher, SKPS Student Services
Caryn Brooks, Occupational Therapist, SKPS Student Services
Margaret C. Hill, Teacher, Bush Elementary School
Michael Cape, Transportation Field Coordinator, SKPS Transportation
Katelyn Coburn, Teacher, Leslie Middle School
Pat Curran, Counselor, Whiteaker Middle School
Kelsey Daniels, Principal, Schirle Elementary School
Michael Daniels, Technology Support Specialist, SKPS Technology
Ashley Delarosa, Counselor, Claggett Creek Middle School
Rachel Dixon, Teacher, Judson Middle School
Anna Edison, Instructional Mentor, EDGE Program
Marilyn Edwards, Teacher, Schirle Elementary School
Curtis Fisher, Teacher, CTEC
Sheila Gebhardt, Administrative Specialist, SKPS Music and Theater
Artonya Gemmill, Principal, EDGE Program
Bethea Gliebe, Teacher, Sumpter Elementary School
Jessica Godinez, Instructional Support Assistant, Myers Elementary School
Mateo Gonzalez, Custodian, Parrish Middle School
Amber Green, Special Education Teacher, Battle Creek Elementary School
Jason Gundlach, Principal, Candalaria Elementary School
Ramon Gutierrez, Support Services and Recruitment Specialist, SKPS Migrant Education
Micki Halsey Randall, Teacher, Blanchet Catholic School
Ben Handrich, Counselor, South Salem High School
Stephen Haner, Teacher, Claggett Creek Middle School
Bridget Hawley, Special Education Teacher, Harritt Elementary School
Scott Johnston, Teacher, McKinley Elementary School
Kathleen Jonathan, Community Resource Specialist, SKPS Student Equity, Access and Advancement
Sarah Keck, Teacher, South Salem High School
Stacy Kilgroe, Teacher, West Salem High School
Angela Lague, Behavior Specialist, Houck Middle School
Janet Linares, Teacher, South Salem High School
Dalton Lindsey, Instructional Support Assistant, Straub Middle School
Richell Lutz, Instructional Assistant, Englewood Elementary School
Jennie Madland, Principal, Leslie Middle School
Jenny Martinez, Instructional Assistant, Hammond Elementary School
Reggie Maxwell, Teacher, Valley Inquiry Charter School
Denny McCarthy, Principal, Straub Middle School
Kyle McGrath, Special Education Teacher, McNary High School
Celia Miramontes, Custodian, Scott Elementary School
Daniel Monroy, Graduation Coach, South Salem High School
Carl Mucken, Principal, Queen of Peace Catholic School
Sheila Muller, Teacher, Harritt Elementary School
Hortencia Navarrette, Bilingual Instructional Assistant, Bush Elementary School
Rahel Owenya, Community Schools Outreach Coordinator, SKPS Language Services
Jeremy Parker, Teacher, Auburn Elementary School
Karen Perez, Program Associate, SKPS Elementary Curriculum
Maija Peters, Teacher, Harritt Elementary School
Lisa Pierson, Teacher, Judson Middle School
Jacqueline Pope Brothers, Teacher, Sprague High School
Dennisa Pozos Gonzales, Teacher, West Salem High School
Denise Proudfoot, Nurse, South Salem High School
Dustin Purnell, Principal, Parrish Middle School
Ariana Recher, Teacher, Wright Elementary School
Cynthia Richardson, Director, SKPS Equity, Access and Advancement
Joel Rocha Torres, Instructional Support Assistant, Swegle Elementary School
Vinnie Rolfness, Teacher, South Salem High School
Maricela Ruiz Herrera, Bilingual Instructional Assistant, McKay High School
Rachel Ryan, Teacher, Leslie Middle School
Rick Saffeels, Teacher, Candalaria Elementary School
Jody Saunders, Teacher, Crossler Middle School
Jessica Solis Flor, Community Schools Outreach Coordinator, Roberts High School
Megan Spickerman, Instructional Support Assistant, Chapman Hill Elementary School
Gabriella Steinlicht, Bilingual Instructional Assistant, Kennedy Elementary School
Tanya Stevens, Instructional Support Assistant, Pringle Elementary School
Sarah Theis, Principal, Highland Elementary School
Tim Thomas, Custodian, Wright Elementary School
George Thomson, Teacher, West Salem High School
Karla Tibbits, Counselor, West Salem High School
Dena Turner, Teacher, Stephens Middle School
Denny Van Wyck, Custodian, Brush College Elementary School
Marisa Varay, Special Education Instructional Assistant, West Salem High School
Alyssa Veliz, Teacher, Yoshikai Elementary School
Kevin Vignery, Behavior Specialist, Grant Community School
Sherry Waters, Instructional Assistant, Scott Elementary School
Greg Watson, Principal, Clear Lake Elementary School
David Whetzel, Teacher, Scott Elementary School
Alina Yory, Bilingual Instructional Assistant, Hallman Elementary School
CORRECTION: The Crystal Apple ceremony is Friday, Feb. 10. A previous version mistakenly reported it was Saturday. Salem Reporter apologizes for the error.
STORY TIP OR IDEA? Contact Editor Les Zaitz by email at [email protected]
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Les Zaitz is editor and CEO of Salem Reporter. He co-founded the news organization in 2018. He has been a journalist in Oregon for nearly 50 years in both daily and community newspapers and digital news services. He is nationally recognized for his commitment to local journalism. He also is editor and publisher of the Malheur Enterprise in Vale, Oregon.
