January Employee of the Month

Julie Burton has been an employee with the Fern Ridge School District for 13 years!  She started working in the district on September 4, 2007 and has been helping students ever since.

In a normal year, Julie runs the study hall at Elmira High School for seven periods a day.  This year, being anything but typical, has found her scheduling online IEP meetings for the special education department and working alongside other EHS staff, keeping spirits up for our limited-in-person students.   She is also the EHS Key Club advisor, holding weekly meetings and participating in various community events.

Here’s what she enjoys the most at EHS, “one of the best parts of my job is seeing such a variety of students.  Seeing the excitement in their eyes when a topic sparks their interest.  I’m used to kids thinking that I’m strict in their 9th and 10th grade school years and then leaving me in their 11th – 12th grade years because I have bugged them so much to turn in assignments that they’re on track to graduate (I call it the natural progression of high school).”

Julie has 5 children and 15 grandchildren.  She and her husband Rod were married a year and a half ago at their favorite spot, Crane Prairie, Oregon with her daughter, Jami performing the ceremony.

When she is not encouraging students and supporting teachers, she loves camping, fishing, and a good book.  Her newest hobby (addiction) is acrylic paint pouring and of course, she loves her Elmira Falcons!

Julie is an outstanding employee who is always wearing a smile.  Her constant “strict” encouragement has helped countless students stay on track to graduate.

Thank you for your positive attitude.

Thank you for working hard to support our students.

Thank you for being a part of the Fern Ridge School District family for the past 13 years.