Congratulations to Gina Evenich, Seventh-Grade Teacher at Roseburg Virtual School, Heather Fullerton, Office Manager, also at Roseburg Virtual School, Tammy Lenz-Maurer, Instructional Assistant at Jo Lane Middle School, and Brenda Teske, Sixth-Grade Teacher, also at Jo Lane Middle School. These employees were presented with Crystal Apple Awards at the June 5 School Board meeting.

Here's what their school leaders had to say:

Gina made the best mistake of her life two years ago! She accidentally applied for the middle school virtual position when she meant to apply for a job at Jo Lane. When called for an interview she was so confused, and when she realized the mistake, couldn’t wait to get off the phone fast enough! She managed to hear out Principal Jardine and agreed to an interview.  Gina is now the fabulous middle school Language Arts/ Social Studies teacher and an important part of the RVS family. Not only is Gina giving in nature, but she also has a dedicated and proactive approach to teaching. She works to instill values of accountability, hard work, and proactivity in her students. She is committed to building meaningful connections with her students, and helps them discover their passion for learning. Her openness and honesty, combined with her willingness to engage in hard conversations, make her a standout educator who truly fosters success.    

Last year, Heather came in as the school’s instructional assistant and jumped right in supporting students. Not only did she run intervention groups, but she also worked on amazing projects to make RVS a better place to be. She reads with kids, helps plan special events for Hive Days, supports parents and students with tech issues, and lends a helping hand to teachers as well. She has amazing relationships with students and staff and is always working on something creative to make RVS even better. Her creativity is contagious, and her positive mindset is inspiring. Earlier this year, Heather moved into the office manager position and took over the front office with style and grace. She is a welcoming face for students and parents and works hard to make sure every person who walks through the door feels welcomed and supported. RVS truly appreciates her willingness to take on absolutely anything that comes her way! Heather is an integral part of the RVS family and her passion and commitment to the school does not go unnoticed! 

Tammy is positive and friendly and makes all Jo Lane students feel welcome. Tammy is appreciated for her beautiful smile that she continues to share with those around her. She has such an amazing work ethic and goes far and beyond what her duties are. Her contagious laugh and witty personality makes working with her more fun. She contributes in positive ways all over the building and is always looking to help. She builds great relationships with students and staff, and she and her husband have donated their time and knowledge for years with their Civil War Cannon Day activities that added to the positive experience for students. With her retirement approaching, her spirit and kind heart will be missed in the school.

Brenda has gone above and beyond to help her team and new members of the team. She is willing to teach new teachers and is always willing to share. She is an incredible teacher and mentor. Her value to her department work is immeasurable, and she makes the best Buckeye Brownie on the planet. She works so hard to include all students in her classroom and has made incredible breakthroughs with some of them. When others need help, she is always the first one to offer her assistance. Brenda is also supportive to staff and helps others for the success of students. She is creative in all things and is a great problem solver who brings her expertise to the sixth-grade team and her individual classes. She runs, stocks, and fills orders for the schoolwide PBIS store by herself as well as teaching Language Arts, Social Studies, and a Strategies class. She is a regular fixture at school dances as a chaperone and attends student events.