Caring, compassionate, proactive, a true advocate for students. These are some of the qualities used to describe this month’s Champion for Students.

Kristina Ebner is a 3rd grade teacher at La Pine Elementary School, where she has taught 3rd or 4th grade for all of her 11 years in Bend-La Pine Schools. The first 4th grade class she taught are now seniors and will graduate in June.

Kristina receives this honor because of who she is and what she does for our students, both in the classroom and in the community in the southern part of our school district.

Read what La Pine Elementary Principal Megan Silvey shared in her nomination of Kristina for our Champion for Students Award:

There is no doubt that she genuinely cares for all students. She not only cares deeply about the students in her classroom, but she always goes out of her way to build relationships with all students here at La Pine Elementary.

She is proactive in all that she does. She takes the time to sit down with all students and gets to know them not only academically but personally. Kristina is the teacher who attends dance recitals, baseball games, football games and so much more. If her students are doing anything that she can support outside of school hours, she is there. She not only does this for current students, but she continues to support former students, including attending all La Pine High School graduations to cheer her former students on in their next chapter in life.

Students who have endured trauma need patience, understanding and a person to believe in them. Kristina is just that. She believes all students can learn, and she will do what it takes to make sure students have what they need, and will do what is needed, to meet their needs as an individual.

Kristina not only does what she can for students, she also participates on many district adoption teams. She is a voice for our students and teachers. She knows what our students in La Pine need and she wants to be an advocate for them.

We are very lucky to have Kristina at La Pine Elementary. She is well loved in our community and by our students. Our staff is grateful for her, for her caring nature, her drive, and her compassion for students.

Bend-La Pine Schools is honored to present Kristina Ebner our Champion for Students Award!