2025 Golden Apple Recipient Chris Thornburgh
Chris’ story is a beautiful reminder of why great teachers matter so much.
Each year, the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation honors four outstanding educators with the Golden Apple Award. This month, we’re highlighting recipient Chris Thornburgh, a sixth grade language arts teacher at Cheldelin Middle School.
Chris and his family moved to Corvallis in 2016 from the Portland area to be closer to relatives. Since then, he’s taught at Cheldelin and coached boys’ soccer at Corvallis High School. His wife, Audrey, serves as Dean of Students at Adams Elementary, and together they have three children in the Corvallis School District. When he’s not in the classroom, Chris enjoys mountain biking, fly fishing, and backpacking with his kids, really anything that gets him outdoors and connected to nature.
Teaching runs deep in Chris’s family. His grandfather was a professor at Oregon State University, his father a biology teacher, and his mother an English literature instructor. He even had both his parents as teachers, twice. After coaching soccer camps following high school, Chris realized his calling. “There was something incredibly fulfilling about working with young people and helping them learn new skills and overcome personal challenges,” he said. Originally a biology major at the University of Portland, he soon switched paths to education, a decision he calls “definitely the right move.”
Chris credits his own sixth grade teacher, Mr. Davis, as a pivotal influence in his life. “Up to that point, I really didn’t enjoy going to school,” he shared. “Mr. Davis made class so much fun. He was incredibly personable, played games in class, joined us for sports at recess in his shirt and tie, and genuinely cared about each student.” Those memories inspired Chris to follow in his teacher’s footsteps and create the same kind of positive, engaging environment for his students.
Receiving the Golden Apple, Chris says, has been both humbling and affirming. “I’ve always done this work because of the personal enjoyment and sense of satisfaction it brings. I never expected to be recognized at the district level,” he said. “Professionally, this recognition recharged my passion for teaching and working with kids. It reminded me that the work I’m doing matters.”
For Chris, the award also carries a deeply personal meaning. His parents attended the ceremony at Cheldelin, including his father, who has dementia. “He hasn’t remembered who I am for well over a year,” Chris shared. “But in a moment of clarity, he looked straight into my eyes, called me by name, and told me how proud he was. I never imagined I’d have that connection again. This award gave me something far greater than recognition… it gave me a memory I’ll cherish forever.”
Congratulations to Chris Thornburgh on this heartfelt and well-deserved honor!
