'To teach is to touch a life forever'
/Klamath County School District honors its ‘Crystal Apples’ at festive gala Tuesday night
Crystal Apple trophies on display on stage at the Ross Ragland Theater before the gala begins. Each apple states: “To teach is to touch a life forever.”
Images by Marcia Schlottman.
Henley art teacher Carlos Becerra was surprised with a Crystal Apple for his work with the community and students. With him is Henley Principal Jack Lee.
It was an evening to celebrate Klamath County educators who inspire and go above and beyond to positively impact the lives of students.
“For every one of us there is some teacher, some coach, a choir director, a librarian, a school secretary, a cook, a janitor, a bus driver who made a huge, positive impact on our lives,” said David Wehr, master of ceremonies for Klamath County School District’s seventh annual Crystal Apple Awards Gala. “This auditorium is full of educators, and almost every one of us could immediately name the teacher that changed our lives, that inspired us to want to inspire the kids that are in our classrooms every day.”
“Tonight we will celebrate eight of them,” he continued, “but they represent hundreds that are out in our district, in our classrooms, and in our schools.”
The gala on Tuesday at the Ross Ragland Theater shone a spotlight on eight educators:
Sergio Cisneros, business teacher, Mazama High School
Willem DeJong, bus driver, Bonanza Schools
Robin De Long, resource special education teacher, Brixner Junior High School
Randy Denson, head teacher, Klamath County Transition Program
Vita Hernandez-Malakar, school-to-home consultant for migrant and EL students and families
Dena Morosin, fourth-grade teacher at Shasta Elementary School
Chris Rajnus, paraprofessional/substitute teacher, Klamath County Transition Program
Geralyn Smith, kindergarten teacher, Peterson Elementary School
and a surprise honoree – longtime Henley High School art teacher Carlos Becerra
Each of the awardees were given a crystal apple trophy engraved with the words: “To teach is to touch a life forever.”
Choirs from Henley and Mazama high schools performed throughout the evening. Henley Jr ROTC presented colors as the Mazama choir sang the National Anthem. Both the Mazama and Henley choirs sang during the awards ceremony. Mazama FBLA and Henley FFA also assisted at the event. Stearns Elementary School teacher David Wehr served as the emcee. Each awardee was introduced with a video highlighting the work they do for the district and its students.
In the surprise announcement, Becerra was awarded a Crystal Apple for his ongoing efforts to inspire students to discover and develop artistic endeavors.
Jack Lee, principal of Henley High School, has worked with Becerra for more than 25 years. “Anybody who knows this guy, knows his heart is huge,” he told the audience after the announcement. “He brings joy to his work, he gushes with pride for his students. He lights up when he can inspire a student and share his passion.
Becerra, who will retire this year, accepted the Crystal Apple, thanked his amazing coworkers and then simply stated, “I’m humbled right now … thank you.”
Art of a Teacher
Awardee Carlos Becerra
Becerra has worked for the past 30 years as an art teacher – and most recently in the new media program at the high school. “Carlos simply makes school a fun and beautiful place to be, which is demonstrated by the number of students clamoring for the opportunity to learn from him.
Year after year, his classes are filled to capacity,” write Henley High School administrators Jack Lee, Andrea Armantrout and Tom Loney in their nomination letter.
In addition to teaching classes, Becerra is the creative force behind Henley’s graduation slide shows, video and live-streaming. He designs signs, banners and posters for the school and district and updates and designs Henley’s webpage.
“One doesn’t have to travel far to see his ‘fingerprints’ all over the community,” Lee said. “Although he will be retiring and leaving Henley at the end of this year, his impact will remain indelibly painted on our hearts.”
Becerra’s students have participated in the Winter Wings Festival, Klamath County Art Association exhibits and Favell Museum art contests. In 1999, Becerra founded the Klamath Art Fair, which operated for five years, and he currently is involved with his students in downtown’s Third Thursday events.
Parts of a Whole
Each of the honored educators see themselves as parts of a whole, crediting their co-workers and the teams of teachers and staff at their schools and throughout the district.
“I’m humbled because there are so many passionate, outstanding, creative educators out there who challenge, inspire and support their students every day,” said awardee Sergio Cisneros, Mazama’s business teacher and FBLA advisor. “… while I’m the one up here receiving this honor, there are so many dedicated faculty, staff, administrators who deserve our recognition and acknowledgement for the countless hours and boundless energy they invest in students.”
Cisneros and other awardees also thanked their students. “I also want to take the time to thank you, the students, for without your openness, your time, your enthusiasm and your desire all these ideas and dreams would be for naught,” he said. “You make this happen. … You are all the driving force behind our work. You are the reason we show up each day, excited to help you realize your dream.”
Awardee Dena Morosin, the fourth-grade teacher at Shasta Elementary School, stated simply: “I want to thank my students for giving me the best job in the world.”
Willem DeJong, bus driver at Bonanza Schools, told the story of how, at the age of 36, he felt chosen by God to drive a school bus. The first couple of years wasn’t easy – “I found myself pulled over to the side of the road a lot,” he said. But he persisted, even volunteering to tutor a student who needed help in school.
“I did everything I knew how to do to love those kids. And I’d be lying if I said it was easy,” he said. “I was glared at. I was given the cold shoulder … I learned how to quickly say, when cussed at, ‘Do you need a hug?’ ” he added, eliciting laughter from the audience of educators and parents. “I found the more I invested in those kids, the more I love them.”
Awardee Robin De Long, resource special education teacher at Brixner Junior High School, called it a wonderful surprise to be honored for a job she looks forward to every day. “In my experience there is no profession in the world that has people who are more giving and dedicated than those who are in education. … What a joy it is to help students build skills that will be used and possible impact them for the rest of their lives …”
Awardee Vita Hernandez-Malakar, school-to-home consultant for migrant and EL students and families, agreed: “It is an honor to be receiving such as important award for doing what I love,” she said.
Randy Denson, head teacher of the Klamath County Transition Program, thanked his coworkers and the community of Klamath County for its support of the district’s program that teaches independent living skills to young adults with moderate to severe disabilities.
“Every person who has helped us financially, volunteered or opened their business doors to us has forever changed our program and the young adults’ lives for the better.”
His coworker, Chris Rajnus, who also received an award, agreed. “Being a part of this program and seeing all the young adults grow and be successful is beyond rewarding,” she said.
Geralyn Smith, kindergarten teacher at Peterson Elementary School, after recognizing and thanking her coworkers and mentors, summed it up neatly: “Tonight recognized a few of us but really should be a time to celebrate all of us. This job cannot be done alone.”
