Eugene teacher Ashley Reich named finalist for statewide education award

At Bertha Holt Elementary in Eugene, fourth-grade teacher Ashley Reich is being recognized for work that reaches beyond one classroom. OnPoint Community Credit Union named Reich a finalist for the 2026 OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education Community Builder awards, a program built to fund projects that enrich students, faculty and the broader school community.

The award is more than ceremonial. OnPoint says four schools will receive $2,000 grants, and one school chosen by online community vote will receive $5,000. The Community Builder program has been running since 2010, and OnPoint says it has given more than $1 million to 347 local educators and schools. The credit union said its 2025 prize campaign was slated to add another $193,000.

For Eugene families, Reich’s finalist spot reflects the culture already visible at Bertha Holt Elementary. The school says it focuses on safety and well-being, emotional and mental health, and belonging, a mission that fits the award’s emphasis on community impact. Reich also appears in Holt Elementary news and fundraising posts, underscoring that her role extends beyond daily fourth-grade instruction into the life of the campus itself.

The recognition also places Eugene alongside other Oregon schools pursuing practical ideas with neighborhood impact. Mapleton School District was named a finalist for a makerspace project in its middle school building. The district says it works with community partners to address barriers to learning and expand opportunities during and beyond the school day, a reminder that the prize is aimed at strengthening both campuses and the communities around them.

OnPoint says the Community Builder awards are open to accredited public, private and charter schools in the Oregon and southwest Washington counties it serves. The 2026 Community Builder recognition was announced May 6, while the 2026 Educator of the Year winners are scheduled to be announced May 20.

For Lane County, Reich’s finalist status is a sign that an elementary classroom in Eugene is part of a much larger conversation about what schools can do when they are asked not only to teach, but to build belonging and civic trust as well.