KCSD Announces Crystal Apple winners
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Article by Marcia Shlottman, public relations, KCSD.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Each year, the Klamath County School District awards Crystal Apples to eight certified and classified staff who best exemplify its mission: “Inspiring today’s students to meet tomorrow’s challenges.”
Award winners include: Adriana Atwood, Rachel Belenfant, Christopher Benjamin, Robert Chambrose, Shannon McDonald, Crystal Renslow, Laci Teaters, and Olga Wenick.
The winners will receive their Crystal Apples during a celebration at 7:00 PM on April 25 at the Ross Ragland Theater. The event is open to the public.
Adriana Atwood
Peterson Elementary
When Adriana Atwood isn’t helping Peterson Elementary School students with math and reading, she is translating for Spanish-speaking parents, operating a clothes closet, tutoring students after school, making cotton candy, and tracking laps for students participating in the before school Marathon Run Club.
Atwood’s work ethic and commitment to students doesn’t surprise Renee Criss. Criss, vice principal at Peterson Elementary, nominated Atwood for the school district’s Crystal Apple Award.
“Anything that will improve Peterson Elementary and help our kids, she will do,” Criss said in her nomination letter. “She will always look for and find ways to help students out academically and personally.”
A paraprofessional at Peterson, Atwood is one of eight winners of the annual award that recognizes Klamath County School District certified and classified staff for their over-the-top efforts to inspire all students.
Atwood, 44, moved to San Diego from Mexico in 2000 with a goal of becoming a dental hygienist. But first she learned English and attended an adult school to earn a regular high school diploma. She and her husband moved with their family to Klamath Falls 12 years ago.
When her daughter started school at Peterson, Atwood volunteered in her classroom. Her daughter’s teacher encouraged her to apply for a substitute position as a parapro. She did that for a few years before landing a full-time position five years ago. Today, her daughter is a student at Mazama High School and her son is a sixth-grader at Peterson.
Atwood works with all grades and is assigned to different classrooms based on student needs. She can be found sitting on the carpet with kindergarteners, helping them manipulate small blocks to learn subtraction, and then less than an hour later, she is tutoring fifth-graders in the hallway.
A couple of years ago, she organized a clothes closet for students in a small room off the school library. Staff members donate and the neighborhood also collects clothing for the closet during an annual holiday event.
“I like helping the kids, being able to show them how to write, how to hold a pencil,” she said. “I never thought I’d be working for a school, but now I’m planning to go back to school to earn my teaching license.”
Criss described Atwood as someone who always shows up for kids and the Peterson community.
“Adriana looks for ways to improve events and find community resources that can help, and she is always willing to work with our bilingual families to translate or answer questions they may have,” she said. “She has grown our Peterson Clothes Closet to help all of our students. What started with a few shirts and pants now includes all sizes of clothes, shoes, coats, and more.”
For Atwood, her job is where she likes to be. “Everyone here is laughing and smiling, and it’s just what we need for kids,” she said. “Kids deserve to be here in a positive environment. Everything here is special for me – the atmosphere, the people I work with.”
Receiving a Crystal Apple Award was totally unexpected.
“I was shocked,” she said. “To be recognized for what I’m doing here is really heartwarming and special.”
Rachel Belenfant
Chiloquin Elementary School
Rachel Belenfant’s first day in a kindergarten classroom was six years ago. She was the teacher.
“I didn’t go to kindergarten,” she said. “My first day of teaching, I was so excited. Then I thought. “Oh my word. I don’t know what kinders do.’ ”
She figured it out – quickly, and successfully. Today, Belenfant is one of the school leaders at Chiloquin Elementary and is a winner of one of the Klamath County School District’s Crystal Apple Awards. The awards are given to eight certified and classified staff for their extraordinary efforts to inspire students.
In her award nomination, Principal Rita Hepper and Vice Principal Janelle Emard write: “Rachel is an incredible teacher who has poured her heart and soul into the children at Chiloquin Elementary. … Every year her kids grow leaps and bounds. She does not hesitate to help, and every kid at our school loves her.”
Belenfant, a member of the school leadership committee, is on the district’s math adoption team and is a reading expert involved in English language arts (ELA) expert trainings. She also helps lead family engagement nights and is credited with bringing the Klamath language to the school.
Kindergarteners in Belenfant’s classroom learn their colors, numbers and various vocabulary in two languages – English and Klamath, and Belenfant teams up with another teacher to teach a Klamath language word of the day during morning assemblies.
Belenfant grew up in Beatty, graduating from Bonanza Junior/Senior High School in 2000. As a Hot Creek Modoc on her father’s side and Klamath on her mother’s side, she is a member of The Klamath Tribes and has family ties in Chiloquin where her family has lived since time in memorial.
After high school graduation, she traveled and worked around the country for a bit before moving to the Portland area. There she attended Portland State University, earning her bachelor’s degree and a master’s in teaching from the Bilingual Teacher Program with an English as a Second Language endorsement.
She returned to her roots in 2016, taking a teaching job at Chiloquin Elementary School.
“My goal is to teach them how to advocate for themselves, to be kind, to be independent thinkers, to think outside the box, and cultivate the love of learning. If they can do that, then the reading is going to come, the math is going to come.”
Belenfant draws inspiration from her community and her children.
“Two of my three children are non-traditional learners,” she said. “I think about the challenges they have, and I know school is hard for them, but they just love it and they come happy every day.
“Also this community inspires me. We’ve had our fair share of traumas. This community is just so resilient. We bounce back from everything, and it’s just amazing, I get to be a part of this.”
Overall, she says she is honored to be a part of the Chiloquin community and to be entrusted with the community’s children.
“We have a huge Native population and school has not always been a safe place for a large number of people in this community, but they still send their kids to me,” Belenfant said. “And that’s an honor and a privilege.”
Belenfant tears up as she talks about her community, about the school, about the children she teaches.
“They are my family and my tribe,” she said, and then added, “It’s easy to be happy when you’re with 5-year-olds.”
Belenfant doesn’t consider winning the Crystal Apple a personal accomplishment. “We are such a team out here. When I got this award, it’s like everyone earned this award. There is no way I could do half the things I do without my coworkers and administration here.
Christopher Benjamin
Henley High School
What drives Christopher Benjamin are his students – whether he’s directing them in his award-winning choir, helping them with study skills, or coaching them in sports.
“We often say this is the generation of tomorrow, but I say this is the generation of today because if we don’t love our kids today, there will be no tomorrow,” the Henley High School choir director said. “I find myself trying to really dig into these kids and let them know they’re cared for.”
His dedication and compassion towards young people are among the reasons Benjamin is one of the winners of this year’s Crystal Apple Award. The Klamath County School District annually awards the Crystal Apple to eight certified and classified staff who display extraordinary efforts to support and inspire students.
Teacher and co-worker Leah Decker in her nomination of Benjamin described a man who embraced the lessons of his own tumultuous background so he could help young people.
“Chris is a teacher who wants to help every single student, not only academically, but personally,” she wrote. “He goes above and beyond to ensure all students feel safe and heard … he also has a wonderful rapport with all teachers on staff.”
Henley parent Jennifer Tappan also nominated Benjamin for the award. “Mr. Benjamin takes his job seriously and pushes both his students and his athletes to do the very best they can,” she wrote. “He is at every banquet, every sporting event, and makes an impact on every student he meets.”
In high school, Benjamin joined choir for the first time as a sophomore after he found the choir room so he could audition for the National Anthem.
Life was tough growing up and Benjamin ended up in foster care as a high school student. He credits his foster parents and his high school choir director for where he is today.
“My desire to teach started with my choir director really taking time with me,” he said. “And my foster parents are still in my life today.”
Benjamin, 33, is an adoptive and foster placement parent and has two sons. “I wanted to be able to give back to kids because I know what it feels like being a kid trying to get an education in a broken home,” he said.
After high school, Benjamin earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance from George Fox University and then a master’s of arts in teaching from Concordia.
He taught at private schools and worked as a music director at a youth community theater for a few years before taking the choir job at Henley in 2016.
Since Benjamin started at Henley, the choir program has blossomed and today more than 120 students sing in one or more of the school’s three choirs.
“It was really, really rough when I started,” Benjamin recalled. “I was told that choir had the highest student referral rate (for behavior) of any class, and there were rumors of cutting the program if things didn’t get better.”
Today, the Henley High choir is consistently ranked among the top in the state.
Henley High Vice Principal Kathleen Todd credited Benjamin for making the choir program what is today.
“Chris is an absolute genius as a choir director —it is a highlight of my day to step into the choir room and hear the magic happening,” she said. “The students love him, and he is a great role model for them.”
Students of all backgrounds and interests are involved in Benjamin’s choirs. “I’m humbled by these kids,” he said. “I let them know that I could not do my job without you being here.”
Outside school, he is involved in his church and is behind an effort to start a community youth center in Klamath Falls. The quote he lives by: “I aspire to inspire before I expire.”
Benjamin never expected to win a Crystal Apple, “To actually receive it is very humbling,” he said. “Just for doing what I love.”
Robert Chambrose
Henley High School
Bob Chambrose sits down next to a student who is trying to write an article about the CTE program for the Henley High School yearbook.
Who does she talk to? What interview questions should she ask? Chambrose, a long-time English language arts, French, and yearbook and publications teacher, brainstorms question ideas with the writer, but doesn’t take over.
Across the classroom, another student asks Chambrose’s opinion about a page design for the latest edition of “the Blue and Gold” magazine. At any one time, students in the publications class can be designing a two-page spread for the quarterly magazine or writing an article for the upcoming yearbook deadline.
“We have a lot to do here, and that can be challenging at times,” said Chambrose, who co-teaches the publication class with Henley business teacher Luke Ovgard. “But when they see their work published, it’s really satisfying. I’m really excited about what this group can do.”
Chambrose, described as the “most dedicated ‘after hours’ employee who works tirelessly to improve the Henley High atmosphere with his welcoming attitude, kindness, and generosity,” is one of this year’s winners of a Crystal Apple Award. The Klamath County School District annually awards the Crystal Apple to eight certified and classified staff who display extraordinary efforts to support and inspire students.
A Henley educator since 2003, Chambrose currently teachers Senior English, French 1, 2 and 3, and yearbook and publications. He calls teaching a lifestyle.
“My greatest obligation is to help kids learn how to learn, to think critically, and achieve success and joy, however they define those,” he said. “I try to help anyone who will let me help them.”
Chambrose has a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s of arts in French literature. He earned his teaching credential later through San Francisco State University after teaching for more than seven years in the Republic of Korea.
Though he has lived in many places, he eventually settled in Klamath Falls, where he and his wife raised their daughter.
Chambrose described himself as a person who gets up every day because he loves life.
“The world inspires me,” he said. “I’m inspired by the life of everyday people. People who live good, kind, and interesting lives. And I’m inspired by courage and excellence, two qualities that I see around me in so many people I meet.”
In 2019, Chambrose teamed up with now retired art teacher Carlos Becerra to start “the Blue and Gold,” a professional quality magazine produced by students. In his French language classes, he teaches not only about France, but the cultures of 28 other French-speaking countries.
“By entering his classroom, our students are whisked away to experience different lands, cultures, languages, and customs,” write Henley administrators Jesse Hamilton, Kathleen Todd, and Luke Hammond.
When he isn’t in the classroom, Chambrose announces athletic contests, takes pictures for yearbook and helps students with their projects.
“Sporting events, theater performances, academic tournaments – you name it – he will be there,” his administrators say.
Chambrose works hard to be a positive influence on the lives of his students. Though surprised to win a Crystal Apple, he said he is grateful to be recognized for his teaching and contributions at Henley.
“The Crystal Apple is evidence that someone has noticed,” he said. “The award is humbling because I’m aware of my flaws more than anyone, probably. … The kind words of my colleagues have made me feel really good.”
Shannon McDonald
Keno Elementary School
Four kindergarteners gather at the small table in Shannon McDonald’s office at Keno Elementary School.
The goal of the day’s lesson revolved around a game featuring plastic butterflies and bugs. The game, “You’re Bugging Me,” encourages the students to identify and talk about what bothers them and the best way of handling those situations.
“What bugs you?” McDonald asks.
“Bees,” said one.
“Cutting in line,” said another.
“What’s the right way to handle that?” McDonald asked.
McDonald a child development specialist at Keno Elementary School, specializes in social emotional learning skills, helping all grade levels of students be successful in and out of the classroom. For her ongoing work, she was named one of eight winners of this year’s Crystal Apple, an annual award that recognizes Klamath County School District certified and classified staff for their over-the-top efforts to inspire all students.
Her nominators, which include two parents and her principal, described her as an amazing educator who supports and values the Keno community.
“My child can be a challenge and Mrs. McDonald understands him and does everything she can to help him with his coping skills and calming techniques,” writes one parent. Says another: “My daughter now enjoys going to school because of Mrs. McDonald’s compassion and understanding. She helped her adapt to the school and her classmates and has been a blessing to our community, school, and family.”
After 20 years of teaching, McDonald last year became a full-time child development specialist for Keno Elementary School. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Oregon Tech and master’s degree in education from Southern Oregon University. She taught at Shasta for 15 years before moving to Keno six years ago.
Her job is to work with students on social emotional skills, providing support and teaching them skills that help them be successful in life and in the classroom. She has specific skills she teaches but willingly changes her schedule to accommodate needs shared by teachers and parents.
“Teachers will come to me and say, ‘This is what we’re struggling with,’ and I also have parents who may tell me they are having trouble at home with listening, for example, so then I will work with students on those skills.”
Keno Principal Sarah Shively said McDonald, after two decades of classroom teaching, brings a level of expertise that allows her to be a bridge for students who are struggling with behavior or academics. She also works with parents and community organizations – and braids the best pigtails.
“Shannon has a caring heart and a tremendous work ethic,” Shively said. “She teaches students to be assertive, use their voice, show kindness, and include others.”
McDonald starts her day greeting students at the school entrance. In addition to small group work, she visits every classroom each morning.
“I always tell people that the worst day of teaching is better than the best day at any other job in the world,” she said. “Knowing that we play such as important role in these kids’ lives inspires me to work hard to teach them to be kind to each other, to help each other when they see someone struggling, to be kind people. I teach my SEL groups to always think before they do or say anything: ‘Is what I’m about to do or say going to have a positive impact on someone else? If not, don’t do or say it.’ ”
Though honored to receive a Crystal Apple, McDonald credits her coworkers, calling it “Keno’s award.”
“I could not do what I do in this school if I was not here with people who had the same vision and the same love of kids and the same passion for wanting to help kids be successful and feel love,” she said.
Crystal Renslow
Klamath County Transition Program
Crystal Renslow supervises and provides advice as young adults chop broccoli, prepare garlic bread and cook potatoes. The mini meat loafs are already in the oven, and lunch will be ready to serve in 30 minutes.
She has a quiet, calm demeanor as she works side by side with students in the school district’s Klamath County Transition Program. The program is for young adults, ages 18 to 21, who are on individualized education plans. The focus is on work experience, independent living skills, post-secondary education, and community inclusion.
“I am inspired by the kids here,” said Renslow, who has worked for the past seven years as a paraprofessional with Transitions. “They all have challenges that make life a little tougher for them. They work hard and they are happy. They come here, and they have choices. What do they want to do? Do they want to learn how to cook, to make coffee? I think that makes it more enjoyable.”
Renslow, who coworkers say is the one who inspires others, is a 2023 winner of the Crystal Apple, an annual award that recognizes eight Klamath County School District certified and classified staff for their extraordinary efforts working with students of all backgrounds and abilities.
The relationship students have with their parapro mentors such Renslow is key to their success, said KCTP head teacher Randy Denson. Renslow was nominated for the Crystal Apple by the entire KCTP team.
“Crystal’s presence creates an environment that is comforting and trusting, enabling her to build strong, lifelong relationships with our students and community members,” her nominators wrote. “She is never afraid of a challenge and is open to new ideas. She takes the time and listens to students, considers what each student needs and goes above and beyond to make sure they feel safe, encouraged, and successful.”
Transitions runs two businesses -- the Jo2Go Coffee Cart and Clean Sweep, a janitorial service. Twenty-three students in the program work with four specially trained paraprofessionals and a teacher.
“It’s a unique job because every day is different,” Renslow said. “We cook, clean, sell coffee, bake, and shop. We create art and work on social and life skills.”
Renslow grew up in a small town in southern California, and move to Bonanza after high school graduation. It was there she met her husband. The couple spent a short time in Prineville before settling in Klamath Falls 20 years ago.
She had always wanted to work with kids. As the oldest of four siblings, she would pretend to teach school, giving her sisters lessons and homework.
She volunteered at a preschool and later at her children’s elementary school before taking a job as a paraprofessional in Ferguson’s intervention classroom. Over the next several years she worked with special education students as well as students with communication needs before taking the position with the Transition program.
Transition parapros receive special training and also adjust the program’s offerings based on the needs of the young adults. “We get new students who come in every year who need different things, and we accommodate those needs,” Renslow said.
She often spends time outside of school hours thinking up projects that the students would enjoy. One of those projects – acrylic pour painting – was so popular the District Office and nearly every school has a 3-foot by 4-foot piece colorful piece of art with their logos. Nearly completed is one for the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office.
Her extra efforts motivate her teammates as well.
“Crystal has true leadership skills and sets the standard of professionalism,” her coworkers wrote. “She makes our team want to be better educators by the example she sets daily.”
Renslow feels lucky to have worked with so many great people, both at Ferguson Elementary and Transitions. “Randy told me about the nomination because he wanted me to know how appreciated I was. Everyone here wrote it together and they all signed it,” she said. “I’ve learned so much from everyone I have worked with. It was just great knowing they appreciated me that much. I didn’t expect to win.”
Laci Teaters
Merrill Elementary School
When Jodie Woodman’s daughter started second grade this fall, she was behind in reading and frustration would often bring her to tears.
But thanks to her teacher, Laci Teaters, that has changed.
“Not only has Mrs. Teaters brought her reading confidence up, but she’s instilled this whole new love of school back to her life,” Woodman writes in her nomination of Teaters for a 2023 Crystal Apple Award. “I think a lot of our second graders were affected by (the pandemic). She approached their different learning levels with finesse and found a way to help each kid according to their individual levels.”
The Merrill Elementary School teacher is one of eight winners of the annual award that recognizes Klamath County School District certified and classified staff for their over-the-top efforts to inspire all students.
Teaters was raised in Merrill, attending Merrill Elementary School and Lost River Junior/Senior High School. She earned a bachelor’s in applied psychology from Oregon Tech and after a practicum as a counselor decided to teach instead, going back to school for her master’s in teaching. She also is trained as a reading coach and interventionist.
Ten years later, she is doing what she dreamed of doing: Raising a family and teaching students in her hometown. She also is an EMT and for the past three years has volunteered with the Merrill Fire Department and Basin Ambulance.
“It allows me to be a part of the community, it allows me to connect with the community, with families and kids,” Teaters said. “Serving my community is very important to me.”
During a recent reading lesson, Teaters engaged students in finding the topic of sections in the book “McMurdle Station,” stretching their understanding of what they read.
“I think one of my motivators is being able to solve problems, and that fits in with meeting the diverse needs of students,” she said. “I’m always thinking, ‘What can I do to make this work for all the groups I have in my class.’ That’s my biggest challenge.”
And her biggest passion.
“I have a passion for learning new things, and I want to be able to instill that in my students so they can grow in their confidence and knowledge … and I want to provide an environment that kids feel safe in and are happy to be a part of. That’s what keeps me going every day.”
Margaret McCadden, principal at Merrill Elementary School, described Teaters as an “exceptional, natural-born teacher.”
“Her passion for education is contagious, and it ignites her students to strive to do their best each and every day,” she said.
In addition to her general classroom teaching duties, Teaters helps coach the afterschool robotics program on Wednesdays and supports the school and students outside the classroom.
“She really loves her students and always takes extra care when they are having a rough day,” Woodman said. “She has really left a big impact on both of my kids by showing them they can achieve anything if they work hard.”
Teaters was surprised to be chosen as a Crystal Apple Award recipient.
“It means a lot to be recognized because I have poured my heart and soul into this,” she said, “but it also makes me reflect on the fact I have so many people to thank, people who inspired me to become a teacher and helped me on the journey to where I am today.”
Olga Wenick
Bonanza Junior/Senior High School
Eighth-graders Montserrat Hernandez and Sara Lopez Cazares aren’t sure what they would do without Olga Wenick.
Both teenagers moved to Bonanza three years ago from Mexico speaking only Spanish. When they started attending school, they had to learn to speak and read English as well as the math, reading, and other lessons for their grade level.
Wenick has been there for them. A paraprofessional at Bonanza Junior/Senior High School, Wenick, who is from Bogota, Colombia, and speaks three languages fluently, works with newcomers, English language learners and migrant students with varying language abilities.
“When we’re stuck, she helps us read and understand,” Sara said. “Especially with math,” Montserrat added.
Jordan Osborn, principal at Bonanza Junior/Senior High School, describes Wenick as a “truly gifted educator who has a passion to serve, teach, and change lives. She is invaluable to the success of our students.” He nominated her for one of the Klamath County School District’s Crystal Apple Awards, and she was chosen as one of eight winners for her extraordinary efforts to inspire and help students.
Wenick has a degree in modern languages and speaks English, French, and Spanish. Before moving to the U.S., she worked as a teacher in Colombia and competed for her country in karate. It was a karate tournament that brought her to Florida 20 years ago where a chance meeting on a train changed the course of her life. Six months later, she married the man who had asked for her help buying tickets.
“I was supposed to return to Colombia, but he asked me stay,” she said. “I had a job teaching and my family was in Colombia. But I decided to stay.”
The couple moved to Nevada, then Alaska, and back to Florida before settling in Oregon. Wenick’s passion was teaching, and she jumped at the full-time paraprofessional job in Bonanza.
Her job at Bonanza is to case manage the school’s English language learners (ELL) throughout the day. On average, she visits 25 classes a day, helping students. She also tutors students every day after school.
Wenick is passionate about her work and understands the challenge her students face.
“They have to work harder than other kids,” she said. “I encourage them to keep studying, to keep working. I know they are going to be successful one day.”
Ninth-grader Delvin Hernandez moved to Bonanza from Honduras three years ago. As he worked a problem on the white board in his algebra class, Wenick stood by, only helping if Delvin asked.
“When I don’t understand something, she helps me translate it, and helps me to finish,” Delvin said.
At times, Wenick has to learn along with the students.
“I help ELL students to understand the concepts that teachers explain,” she said. “I not only translate, but I reteach.”
Osborn said Wenick’s consistent and fair practices, rapport with students, and classroom support has a direct and positive impact on the success of her students.
“Her love and dedication to students is unmatched. Without Olga, our school would not function nearly as well,” he said. “I am a better person for having worked with her. She is truly one of a kind.”
Wenick was surprised to receive the Crystal Apple.
“I would not be able to do what I do without the help and support of Mr. Osborn, as well as my coworkers and students,” she said. “It is a nice confirmation of all of our hard work.”