Foothills Sentry Page 6 DECEMBER 2025 BRUNCH | LUNCH | DINNER | SPECIAL EVENTS Sit Down & Sip Up. It’s... HAPPY HOUR MONDAY FRIDAY FROM 3PM 6PM OpenTable Diner’s Choice 2025 Winner Best Ambiance, Best Steak 6410 EAST CHAPMAN AVE. | 714.997.2910 THEORANGEHILLRESTAURANT.COM ORANGEHILLRESTAURANT ORANGEHILLEATS Students who had Maurice “Preach” Lyerla as a teacher at Villa Park Elementary and Cerro Villa Middle School decades ago remember him still. He was, they say, the single most influential teacher in their young lives, in charge of everything from student government to school dances to coaching every sport his young athletes wanted to play. He knew every kid, their families, when they were where they were supposed to be, and when they weren’t. “One day I road my bike home from school a different way,” Cyndee Kellar Paulus recalls. “He called my mother to tell her I was ‘going astray.’ When I got home she asked me what I thought I was doing. Nothing got by him.” Steve Palmer, Lyerla Class of 67, met him in 1957. “I was afraid of my kindergarten teacher, who was also my aunt,” he says. “I refused to get out of the car every morning and Preach would pull me out and carry me into class. Once I got there, I was fine.” Many of Preach's students stayed in touch with him long beyond their school days, meeting for lunches and celebrating birthdays. Now in their 70s, they want to make sure he is never forgotten. Steve Palmer floated the idea of installing a commemorative plaque in his honor at Cerro Villa, the school where he taught from 1965, the year it opened, until he retired in 1993. He taught sixth grade at Villa Park Elementary for nine years, moving to the new middle school to “follow up on his students.” Palmer approached the Orange Unified School District about the plaque project a year ago. “I was willing to pay for the plaque,” he says. “I just needed permission to install it.” Nothing happened. Shortly after Superintendent Rachel Monárrez joined the district, Palmer met with her. Two weeks later he had the permission he needed, and plans were made for a small ceremony to acknowledge the plaque and celebrate Preach. About 25 former students and district officials gathered outside a classroom, Nov. 8, to remember their teacher. “As a teacher, it’s good to feel and know that you’ve made a lasting impression,” Monárrez said. “Mr. Lyerla served more than 30 years. He was a mentor and a guide.” Villa Park City Councilman Robert Frackleton, a Preach alumni, noted that, “It’s the teachers who make the difference. The ones who get it done.” He recalled that Preach always hired a professional band from Hollywood to play at school dances. A local garage band was not good enough for his Cerro Villa students. Frackleton also reported that Villa Park Mayor Nicole Jones also had him as a teacher. “Preach is well represented on the Villa Park City Council.” Steve Palmer was instrumental in getting the plaque honoring his favorite teacher installed at Cerro Villa. Maurice "Preach" Lyerla passed away in May 2024. Preach, second from left, celebrated his 90th birthday in 2021 with former students. From left, Cyndee Kellar Paulus, Julie Oswald Checkham and Marla Small Patterson. Superintendent Rachel Monárrez applauded Lyerla for being the kind of teacher every school district wants. Villa Park City Councilman Robert Frackleton shows off his Cerro Villa ID card. Former students display a class photo from 1967. From left, Suzanne Jones, Cindy Koppel Kraus and Karen Largerquist Aiello. Influential teacher honored by former students Canyon resident named foundation director New Directions for Women (NDFW) named Heather BlackCoyne, a resident of Silverado Canyon, executive director of the organization. She previously served as chief clinical director for the organization. One of the county's sole nonprofit addiction facilities dedicated to women and children, New Directions for Women provides a safe, healing environment for women to find recovery from addiction. Heather Black-Coyne has a personal journey of addiction and experience with long-term recovery. Her professional career in addiction treatment spans over 15 years and she is committed to serve across multiple levels of care, populations and the administration of treatment. Her work is dedicated to treatment that recognizes the needs and experiences of women. Her belief in the power of storytelling is also reflected in her approach to leadership. Black-Coyne is married; the couple have five children combined and recently welcomed a new grandchild. Peyton Harrison was crowned 2025 Homecoming Queen at Foothill High School. Peyton is also a volleyball player at FHS. The Villa Park High Homecoming Queen and her court pose after the crowning. Left to right are Susan Kim, Samaira Multani, Queen Trinity Laurenson, Melayna Kiflezghie and Gabriela Torres. Mason Culp was the Homecoming King with his princes Philip Tran, Youssef Badf, Ethan Cisneros and Yamin El Kahlout. Foothill and Villa Park crown Homecoming Queens
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