Breakfast in Bethel
Bethel Education Foundation’s annual advocacy and fundraising event “Breakfast in Bethel” was held recently in the Willamette High School Cafeteria.
The middle school jazz band jumpstarted the 7a breakfast. In a later speech, Superintendent Dr. Kraig Sproles thanked the students, explaining it was a day off for them and there were about “5,000 other kids sleeping right now.” Table decorations included placemats and thank you notes from elementary and middle school students.
Started by a group of parents in 2009, Bethel Education Foundation is a not-for-profit that, in their own words, “support[s] programs that benefit the educational, social and emotional growth of Bethel students in Eugene.” Breakfast in Bethel is one of many fundraising events that the Bethel Education Foundation holds throughout the year.
There were many wonderful student and faculty speakers during the event. After a land acknowledgment, Superintendent Sproles spoke. He explained the importance of "showing up" as teachers and students. He mused on the difference between “happiness” and “joy” and concluded, “Joy is doing hard things well.” An inspiring example of such hard-earned joy is the 2025 Bethel Education Foundation Community Spirit Award winner, Shannon Witty.
A counselor and coach at Cascade Middle School, Shannon runs the Cascade Family Resource Center, which supports Bethel families and community members by offering grocery and other essential items. Shannon explained in a video aired at the event that this resource pantry reduces food insecurity and enables kids to “come to school and just be students.” Shannon works with community partners FOOD For Lane County and City First Church to maintain the Resource Center.
The keynote speaker, Chris McGowan discussed the importance of CTE and the future of Bethel students. In his experience teaching robotics and digital manufacturing, Chris has found that many students who do not enjoy the traditional classroom respond positively to the hands-on and collaborative aspects of CTE. Willamette High School offers many different CTE classes, including culinary arts, construction, engineering, photography and drafting, robotics, computer science, graphic design, and business/finance. These courses offer a clear professional path to students, whether that means continuing to develop their skills in higher education settings or entering the workforce upon graduation.
There were many familiar faces at the event, including Senator James Manning Jr. and Eugene City Mayor Lucy Vinis. We enjoyed seeing Chrisopher Roach, project engineer for Todd Construction. We worked closely with Chris and the larger Todd team on the new Cascade Middle School.
After the breakfast, Chris McGowan led a small group on a tour of Willamette High School’s new CTE center. The two-story, 15,000-sf facility, designed by Soderstrom Architects, was quite impressive, as was the student work on display.