MISSION — A Umatilla language teacher was among 34 educators honored at the Crystal Apple Award, recognizing excellence in education across Eastern Oregon.
The InterMountain Education Service District (IMESD) hosted the 26th annual Crystal Apple “Excellence in Education” Awards on May 11 at the River Event Center in the Wildhorse Resort and Casino, honoring educators for their contributions to student success.
Hundreds of education professionals gathered in support of colleagues across school districts in Umatilla and Morrow counties. The Crystal Apple Award honored 34 recipients, five legacy awards and one leadership award.
“These school district employees inspire, motivate and support students in our communities,” IMESD Crystal Apple Coordinator Michele Madril said. “Despite challenges in education, our local school staff have continued to remember what’s most important — our students.”
Madril said the award recipients provide learning environments where students are inspired to explore, grow and broaden their perspectives.
Amongst the winners from Pendleton School District, the award ceremony honored Shawndine Jones, a Umatilla language teacher at Pendleton Early Learning Center (PELC) and Washington Elementary School, with a Crystal Apple.
Jones, of the Walker River Paiute Tribe, was recognized for her “Walk to Language” project, developed in collaboration with Umatilla Master Speaker Mildred Quaempts.
Jones also participates in the Sapsik’ʷałá Alumni Network at the University of Oregon, a teacher education program that collaborates with federally recognized Oregon tribes to create pathways for Indigenous people to become teachers in their communities.
Madril read Jones’s biography to the crowd as she was presented the award by Pendleton Superintendent Michelle Jensen.
“Shawndine has been an unwavering supporter of bringing tribal culture and language to her students. She is the bridge connecting elementary students to tribal knowledge,” she read to the crowd.
Jones said the project started when PELC opened in 2015, and she worked with Quaempts to bring the Umatilla language into classrooms. She said she started with the kindergarten classes and has since expanded the project to Washington Elementary School.
The lessons prepared by Jones are recordings of Quaempts speaking timely or on-theme word lists or phrases in the Umatilla language. Then those recorded lessons are brought to the students.
“Learning from Mildred, she’s taught me a lot. She’s a really great teacher,” Jones said. “I really appreciate just collaborating with her and the language program. Working in the schools is very fulfilling, and they’re very supportive.”
Quaempts said collaborating with Jones has been awesome and described her as having a “beautiful heart.”
Jones said she hopes the project will urge students to continue learning about another culture, even if they’re not a part of it.
“I think this collaboration really helps with understanding the people that are from here,” she said. “I’m not a tribal member here. I try to do things respectfully, but I think it’s important that all children learn about the tribes here, and their language is a part of that. Just helping them grow, it’s amazing to see.”
In addition, at Nixyáawii Community School, the Crystal Apple Award went to Julian “Wus” Gone, the school’s custodian.
In the Pendleton School District, winners were Jolene Hudson, an intervention teacher at Sherwood Heights Elementary School; Abbey Prevot, an art teacher at Pendleton High School; and Bridget Schultz, a fifth-grade teacher at Washington Elementary School.
