The red carpet extended down the sidewalk, the banners were hung on the walls, the nominees were on the way and the Elsinore Theatre was nearly sold out. Those of us who came to support our friends were cheering as each teacher was interviewed in front of the cameras. Excitement flowed through the air.
This was the 13th annual Crystal Apple Awards for the Salem-Keizer School District, a prestigious teaching award and I was accompanying my friend, Kim, to cheer for our friend, Adria, who was nominated for one of the awards. This year, there were 55 nominations and 12 awards were scheduled to be given out.
Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait long. After the entertainment and scholarship portion of the evening, they started handing out the awards. Adria was the third one announced and her cheering section, which was quite decent I must say, gave her a standing ovation, hollering and clapping wildly. The emcee talked about her many good qualities and what she has done for the school. In her hands they placed a crystal apple and she held it out to us, to the staff, parents, and volunteers with whom she wanted to share it. We were and are, SO PROUD of her. It is well deserved, she is a wonderful teacher who not only goes the extra mile, but the extra five miles beyond that.
They quoted her in the paper as saying, ““This is something that’s bigger than me,” said Adria Farina-Miller, a teacher at Richmond Elementary School, shortly after winning — referencing Richmond’s rich history in the community. “It represents all the hard work of teachers, staff, students, community members and parents,” she said. “This is for them.””
Congratulations Adria, I am SOOO happy for you. You are, truly, an inspirational teacher.
365-09 #323
You have gone far to redeem the term "crystal apple" for me. When I was a young Friend going to college, a mentor of mine was Jean Toomer, a black Quaker poet and mystic. He gave the William Penn Lecture at Phila. Yearly Meeting in 1949, on "The Flavor of Man." One quote from that lecture which I have long remembered:
"My wife was going through one of the catalogues that annually fascinate her, when she suddenly exclaimed, 'Listen to this! Here's something for you.' Indeed it was. This is what she read: 'Crystal Apple. 65 days. An amazingly attractive cucumber, perfectly round, crystal-white at all stages, with a sweetness and lack of cucumber flavor that is remarkable. Produces a tremendous number of fruit about the size of a lemon when mature.' Crystal Apple. It is not called a cucumber. It has neither the shape nor the size of a cucumber. And, to cap it all, it remarkably lacks the cucumber flavor! What ingenuity and labor went into the production of this cucumber that isn't a cucumber! Is this not typical of twentieth century man?"
Now, instead, you give as a crystal apple that is not a fake cucumber but the real thing — a genuine human achievement! Bravo!
Vail
Thank you Vail. The first time I got to observe Adria teaching, it helped me immensly to watch someone I trusted be firm with the kids when needed. She is so kind to them, cheerful, and wise all at the same time. It has helped me develop teaching skills of my own. So you could say she redeemed the "crystal apple" for me too. Bravo to Adria and all of Richmond!