Congratulations to Alum Sage Hatch, '18, who was selected as a 2026 National Academy of Education (NAEd)/Spencer Research Fellow. Sage was born and raised in Siletz, Oregon, and currently works with the Native American Youth and Family Center in Portland. Sage holds a Master’s of Education (MEd) in Teaching and Curriculum from the COE's Sapsik’ʷałá program in partnership with UOTeach.
Dr. Brian Megert, currently the director of special programs at Springfield Public Schools, will be the district’s new assistant superintendent. Brian received a doctorate of education, a master’s in special education, and bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Oregon.
Jenn Mills, a special education instructor for Tualatin High School, changes lives with Unified, an inclusive program affiliated with the Special Olympics. Jennifer earned an undergraduate degree in education and a master’s degree in special education from the COE. She worked at Churchill High School in Eugene before returning to her hometown.
Finalist Kimberlee Pelster has a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy from the University of Oregon and this spring completed a doctoral degree, also in educational leadership. Pelster is currently principal at Thurston High School.
Ronda Fritz earned a special education doctorate in literacy from the University of Oregon in 2016. That was three years after Mississippi instituted a statewide literacy program that would bring its statewide reading scores from the bottom to the top of the country using a science of reading program.
Congrats to COE alum Mike Seager, MEd ’12 (Special Education), winner of Eugene School District 4J’s 2026 Golden Apple Award in the teacher/licensed specialist category. Mike is a special education teacher at Roosevelt Middle School. Core to his work with students is his Academic Success Rubric, a comprehensive list of skills needed for students to be successful in the classroom.
Yvonne Fasold, a three‑time UO graduate in English, Interdisciplinary English and Education, and Curriculum and Instruction (’67, ’69, ’92), built a 40‑year career as a creative, student‑centered educator before retiring and continuing her service as an active community volunteer. A College of Education donor for over twenty years, Yvonne has helped future teachers prepare to meet the diverse learning needs of students through scholarship support.
With a unique 4+1 model, hands-on classroom experience, and donor-funded scholarships, the University of Oregon College of Education’s Educational Foundations program is shaping the next generation of public-school teachers.
With support from the Berdine Jernigan Scholarship, Anahi Cortes, class of 2028 (educational foundations), is preparing to create classrooms where every student feels welcome.
The Tillamook Family Counseling Center welcomed Amanda Bunger in mid-November as its new Executive Director. Bunger was born and raised in Burns and attended Southern Oregon University, earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology before completing a master’s degree in counseling, family and human services at the University of Oregon.
