Honoring Excellence: 2013 ACE Awards

Dozens of 4J teachers and other licensed staff, classified staff, administrators and volunteers were honored April 23 at the 8th annual ACE (A Champion in Education) Awards ceremony.

One district “champion” was selected from each category: Teachers/Licensed Staff, Classified Staff, Administrators, and Volunteers. 4J’s four champions for 2013 are:

Jason Miller, Language Arts & Social Studies Teacher
Kelly Middle School
Jason has been building relationships and sparking smiles at Kelly for seventeen years. He holds students accountable to high standards and supports them to get there. He has a fierce drive to see kids succeed in ways they didn’t think possible. And he does it all while making learning fun. Students describe his teaching and coaching methods as wacky, unique…and unforgettable. Jason loves his job and communicates that love of learning to his students.

Steve Cooper, Food Service Coordinator
Bertha Holt Elementary School
As Holt Elementary’s head chef, Steve is passionate about creating wonderful healthy meals for his students. But his dedication goes far beyond serving breakfast and lunch.  Steve shows tremendous teamwork and goes out of his way to lighten the load on teachers. In a school with more than 500 students, Steve knows and cares for every one. His work helps ensure that students are nurtured and ready to learn — and he does it all with a kind heart and great care. It’s no wonder his students think of him as something of a celebrity.

José da Silva, Principal
Kelly Middle School
José works tirelessly to develop genuine community engagement and bring his diverse school community together into one cohesive unit. Students feel safe bringing him their concerns, parents are comfortable approaching him with ideas, and teachers feel empowered to share their views. José empowers students, gives them leadership opportunities, and encourages them to see the bigger picture of the world and their role in it. He inspires Kelly staff to do their best work, no matter the obstacles. And in everything he does, he never loses sight of doing what is best for kids.

Tom Cramer, Volunteer
Camas Ridge Community Elementary School
Wherever there’s a need, Tom finds a way to be part of the solution. He teaches lessons in science and language arts, and directs students in a Shakespeare play each year. He jackhammered out concrete and fired up his rototiller to help create Camas Ridge’s amazing school garden. When Camas Ridge lost its year-round music program, he began bringing his guitar to school and teaching weekly music lessons. Whether he is hauling compost, bringing baby chicks to kindergarten, or engaging the whole school in a sing-along, Tom’s selfless devotion is a tremendous asset to his school and his community.

Congratulations to these four terrific educators! Each champion’s school will receive a $1,000 monetary award. Adding up those awards over the past several years, the ACE Awards’ sponsors have contributed nearly $100,000 to local public schools.

The ACE Awards are a collaborative effort of the Eugene and Springfield chambers of commerce and the Eugene, Bethel and Springfield school districts to honor those who are making significant contributions to our community as leaders in education. The ACE Awards program and awards ceremony wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of local businesses and organizations: presenting sponsor Oregon Community Credit Union, as well as supporting sponsors Pacific Source Health Plans, SELCO Community Credit Union, Hershner Hunter LLC, Eugene-Springfield McDonald’s Restaurants, University of Oregon Alumni Association, Springfield Education Association, and All Academic.

Congratulations to all of the nominees from Eugene School District 4J: