Fans from Sumpter Elementary School at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Outstanding educators nominated for this year’s Crystal Apple Awards by their students, colleagues and the community walked the red carpet Thursday night, May 14.
The award, presented to Salem-Keizer School District staff by the McLaran Leadership Foundation and the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, honors their dedication to students. Of 108 nominees, 12 took home trophies.
Winners included teachers, counselors, a principal, advocates and a graduation coach. Learn more about why they won here:
The Salem Convention Center was crowded with attendees of the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Ricardo Larios, principal at Stephens Middle School and a Crystal Apple Award winner, and his mother, Socorro Lario, pose with Andrea Castañeda at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Leticia Salas, office manager at Hoover Elementary School, waits her turn to walk down the red carpet at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Estela Gutierrez, an instructional assistant at Chapman Hill Elementary School, and Ron Gutierrez walk down the red carpet at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Rosa Ceja-Contreras, education program specialist in the Elementary Language Acquisition Program and Gustavo Ceja-Contreras walk down the red carpet at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Socorro “Coky” Mendez, a recruiter in the Elementary Language Acquisition program, walks down the red carpet at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Lisa Fitzmaurice holds a bouquet to give to her daughter Amy Faiman, a 2026 Crystal Apple winner, at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Mary Jean Sandall, Tom Hoffert, Andrea Castañeda, and Diane McLaran serve as emcees at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the 2026 Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Anna Robinson, a teacher at Lee Elementary School, and Adam Robinson pose with Andrea Castañeda and Tom Hoffert at the end of the red carpet at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Conference Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Mary Jean Sandall and Diane McLaran help align Crystal Apple nominees before they walk down the red carpet at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Raquel Cortez Hernandez waits on the sidelines with flowers for a friend at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
The Wildcat Ladies were in force to support their candidate walking down the red carpet at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
The awards ceremony
The winners of 2026 Crystal Apple Awards gather on stage at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Cesar Bueno, a counselor at South Salem High School, receives a Crystal Apple Award from Superintendent Andrea Castañeda at the ceremony at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Superintendent Andrea Castañeda holds up a sign from a student that signifies strength and resilience at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Jessica Miller, a teacher at North Salem High School, receives a Crystal Apple Award from Superintendent Andrea Castañeda at the ceremony at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Superintendent Andrea Castañeda brings a friend on stage at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Stephanie Lassetter, a teacher at McNary High School, receives a crystal apple award from Superintendent Andrea Castañeda at the Crystal Apple Awards held at the 2026 Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Billy Niebla, a student advocate in the McKinney-Vento Program, receives a crystal apple award from Superintendent Andrea Castañeda at the 2026 Crystal Apple Awards held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Teacher Danny Ortiz of North Salem High School receives a Crystal Apple Award from Superintendent Andrea Castañeda at the ceremony at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Amy Faiman, a teacher at Schirle Elementary School, receives a Crystal Apple Award from Superintendent Andrea Castañeda during the ceremony held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Toni Nanneman, development director at Blanchet Catholic School, receives a Crystal Apple Award from Principal Robin Smith at the ceremony held at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Adam Banducci, a behavior specialist at Roberts High School, receives a Crystal Apple Award from Superintendent Andrea Castañeda at the ceremony at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Marcus Luther, a teacher at McNary High School, receives a Crystal Apple Award from Superintendent Andrea Castaneda at the ceremony at the 2026 Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Sydney Chisholm, special program instructional assistant at Yoshiaki Elementary School, receives a Crystal Apple Award from Superintendent Andrea Castañeda at the ceremony at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Ricardo Larios, principal of Stephens Middle School, receives a Crystal Apple Award from Superintendent Andrea Castañeda at the ceremony at the Salem Convention Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
CORRECTION: The husband of Estela Gutierrez, an instructional assistant at Chapman Hill Elementary School, is Ron Gutierrez. An earlier version of the caption had his first name wrong. Salem Reporter apologizes for the error.
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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
