Congratulations to Tom Popham, a custodian at Fremont Middle School; Ella Taggart, eighth-grade Language Arts teacher, Leadership teacher and WEB coordinator, at Fremont; Kate Mattox, Pre-K teacher at Green Elementary; and Justena Myler, Specialized Support Center instructional assistant, also at Green. These employees were presented with Crystal Apple Awards at the November 12 School Board meeting.

Here’s what their leaders had to say: 

Tom Popham is one of Fremont’s true behind-the-scenes heroes. Always three steps ahead, Tom is incredibly thorough and dependable. He anticipates needs, solves problems before they arise, and somehow manages to keep our entire campus running smoothly. He’s known for responding even when he’s off the clock and for tackling every task, big or small, with care and dedication. Beyond his daily responsibilities, Tom builds strong relationships with students and staff. He’s even mentoring a student from RHS, helping him learn valuable job skills he can carry into future employment. Fremont is better every day because of Tom’s hard work, kindness, and constant willingness to go above and beyond.

Ella is a remarkable educator whose dedication, positivity, and leadership shine through in everything she does. In addition to teaching Language Arts, she serves as one of Fremont’s WEB coordinators, Leadership teacher, and volleyball coach — roles through which she has made tremendous contributions to the school’s culture and sense of community. Ella’s creativity and commitment are evident in the many ways she engages students and staff. She recently led a successful Walk-a-Thon that raised around $13,000 for Fremont — an incredible achievement that benefits the entire school. Whether she’s organizing events, creating inclusive spaces, or simply greeting everyone with a smile and kind word, Ella goes above and beyond to make Fremont a place where people feel proud to belong. Fremont is so grateful for all that she does.

Green staff and students proudly recognize Kate Mattox for her outstanding commitment to early childhood education.  Her passion for teaching shines through in every classroom activity, nurturing curiosity and confidence in our youngest learners. Beyond her own classroom, Kate shares her expertise generously. She guides parents, staff and fellow teachers by modeling best practices and current research while uplifting everyone around her. This year Kate took on the role of starting a story time for young families in the community. It is quickly growing into a place where our future dragons can begin to see themselves as BRAVE. Thank you for your hard work, patience and love of Green Elementary.  

This year's award goes to someone whose heart and dedication make a difference every single day. Justena has a gift for seeing the unique strengths in every child. She's the kind of person who is always thinking ahead, making sure everything is ready before anyone even asks. If something needs to be done, she's the first to step in, always giving her full effort with care and pride. Estimates for how many steps Justena gets in a day are close to a MILLION. Her love for working with students with disabilities is clear in everything she does, and she's following that passion as she works toward becoming a special education teacher herself. Her kindness, determination, and unwavering commitment to her students make her truly deserving of this recognition.