Pacific Middle School and Shahala Middle School - Unified Basketball

Unified athletes and their partners played in front of a great crowd at Pacific Middle School.  Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.  The two teams will play again later this year at Shahala. 

Home Choice Academy - Parade Time

Students and staff held a Thanksgivings Day Parade around their playground.  Rain didn't stop these Tigers!

The Evergreen Awards 2025

Nominations for these awards are based on the employee's direct or indirect relationship to student achievement, and employees are recognized in three categories: certificated staff member, classified staff member and a group/team of up to five.  The nominees must be permanently employed by the district with a minimum of one year of service to qualify.  The criteria given for nominations include: Assuming positive intent - Approaching colleagues, students, and families with trust, understanding, and a belief in the best of others. Being kinder than necessary - Showing compassion, empathy, and encouragement, going above and beyond to support the well-being of students and staff.  Creating systems that serve - Designing or improving processes and practices that make learning and work effective, efficient, and equitable.  Measure twice, cutting once - Planning carefully, anticipating challenges, and implementing thoughtful, high-quality solutions.  Being culturally responsive leaders - Valuing diverse perspectives, fostering inclusive environments, and ensuring all students and staff feel seen, heard, and supported.  While it is impossible to recognize every deserving employee who meets these criteria, the intent of this award is to identify, select and celebrate staff members who epitomize the image of a high-quality Evergreen Public Schools employee.  The recipients of the Evergreen Award for the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year are:

Classified:  Francine Flier, Brailist, Special Services 

Introduced by Dr. Matt Bennett, Director of Special Services

Nominated by Sayra Vann, Visually Impaired Itinerant Teacher, Special Services

• Francine truly embodies the EPS Mindsets in all that she does.  She creates a strong sense of belonging and success for all by ensuring that our students who are blind or visually impaired have access to high-quality, timely braille materials that help them thrive.  Francine always assumes positive intent, approaching her work and relationships with compassion, patience, and professionalism.  She is kinder than necessary, taking time to make every student feel supported, heard, and valued.  Through her organization and dedication, she creates systems that serve, making the process of providing accessible materials smooth and reliable.  Her accuracy and attention to detail show her pride and care in every project, and her growth mindset shines through as she asks thoughtful questions and looks for ways to keep improving.  Francine's kindness, professionalism, and inclusive spirit make her an invaluable member of our team and a wonderful example of the EPS Mindsets in action.  

Certificated: Megan Joseph, Second Grade Teacher, Sifton Elementary School

Introduced by Angie Mitchell, Principal, Sifton Elementary

Nominated by Amanda Georgeson, Special Education Teacher, Sifton Elementary

• Megan Joseph has embraced neighborhood schools and inclusion with her whole heart.  She creates a classroom environment that truly meets every students' needs and fosters a community of pure kindness, responsiveness, and acceptance.  Over the past few years especially, she has adjusted her physical space to meet student needs, accommodated her CORE lessons with tools and strategies that meet the needs of non-speaking students in her room, as well as seeks to learn more about her students with disabilities and how to be THEIR teacher and not just rely on the paraeducator coming in to do the work with the kiddo.  She extends these ideals to ALL the students in her classroom throughout the entire day.  I had the privilege to sit in her room during a writing activity where kids were sharing their drafts so far and giving feedback.  All the kids were eager to share and give feedback.  All the kids were eager to share and give insightful feedback for second graders.  It didn't matter how far in the draft process they were, she encouraged each one to share their work if they wanted to and they all did.  For second graders, they were highly attentive to this activity and stayed engaged for the entire duration-which can be difficult.  While I am a special education teacher, I look up to her as a role model for the kind of general education teacher all of our students, regardless of ability or needs, deserves.

Admin/Team: Kristen Preece, Carmella Bender, Anne Galvas, Karla Valladares Rojas, Noor Ayesh, Rose Cuneta, Carrie Urban, Casey Lutgens, Em Brucher, Maria Galindo-Cordova, Amy Bristow, Breanna Potter-Utley, Family and Community Outreach Coordinators

Introduced and Nominated by Melanie Green, Family Engagement and Resource Coordinator, ASC

• Assuming positive intent - Outreach Coordinators approach every interaction with students, families, and colleagues from a place of trust and empathy.  They listen first, seek to understand individual circumstances, and respond without judgement.  Being kinder then necessary - Compassion and care are at the heart of the FCRC mission.  Outreach Coordinators consistently go above and beyond to meet the needs of students and families - whether it's connecting someone to critical resources, offering a listening ear, or celebrating small victories.  Their kindness helps create a sense of belonging and emotional safety for everyone they serve.  Creating systems that serve - Outreach Coordinators work to streamline access to support by developing and refining systems that reduce barriers and increase equity.  They identify gaps, collaborate with partners, and design processes that make it easier for families to access resources efficiently and for schools to respond effectively.  Measuring twice, cutting once - In their planning and implementation, Outreach Coordinators take a thoughtful and strategic approach.  They anticipate challenges,  coordinate with partners, and ensure that supports are sustainable and responsive.  Being culturally responsive leaders - Outreach Coordinators honor and uplift the diverse identities, languages, and experiences within our community.  They ensure resources and support reflect cultural awareness and relevance, and they create spaces where every family feels valued and heard.  I realize this is more than the five nominees, but feel strongly that FCRC Outreach Coordinators should be recognized for their unwavering commitment to supporting students and families with compassion, creativity, and excellence.  Their dedication to removing barriers, fostering belonging, and strengthening community partnerships has made a lasting and transformative impact across the district.