Mandy Vance Honored as 2023-24 Oregon Teacher of the Year

In an exciting surprise announcement, Mandy Vance, an Oregon Trail School District middle school teacher, was named and celebrated as Oregon’s 2023-24 Teacher of the Year! Vance has taught 6-8th grade at Boring Middle School for 15 years and is on special assignment this fall at Cedar Ridge Middle School.

“Teachers like Mandy are so important to making sure that every child has a safe place to receive a high-quality public education. Her commitment to volunteerism and empowering students is incredible, and I’m thrilled to see her efforts to go above and beyond for her students being honored,” said Governor Tina Kotek.

Mandy Vance grew up in Portland, Oregon and discovered her love for working with youth while serving as a student mentor at Franklin High School, and as a camp counselor during the summer. She graduated from Corban University, earning a Bachelors of Science in Social Studies Education, and other honors for her leadership and athletic achievements. Her global volunteer work and overseas teaching experiences led her to pursue a Masters of Science degree in English to Speakers of Other Languages. Upon graduation, she found her teaching home in Boring, Oregon where she has taught a wide range of students and subjects. As a lifelong learner, Vance earned her Doctorate in Education from Concordia University, where her research focused on the relational needs of Generation Z athletes. With this knowledge she empowers students to be leaders in her classes, on her athletic teams, and in the clubs she advises. 

“Mandy Vance is an educator who has consistently demonstrated care for students in significant ways,” said Dr. Charlene Williams, Director of the Oregon Department of Education. “This is a teacher who both empowers students and holds them accountable, who sees the unique identity of every scholar and helps them to see themselves and all they have to offer, and who will meet every student where they’re at and then challenge them to do more than they ever thought they were capable of.”

More about Mandy Vance...

Teacher of the Year Coverage

Several news outlets covered the 2023-24 Oregon Teacher of the Year announcement. Check out their stories:

KBND Radio in Bend

KEX Radio in Portland

KOIN TV in Portland

The Sandy Post newspaper

In addition to the news coverage, the Clackamas Education Service District crafted a moving video of the ceremony.

Celebrating National School Lunch Week!

The week of October 9-13 was National School Lunch Week and ODE teamed up with the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) to raise awareness of the importance of child nutrition programs in schools. We encouraged school board members to visit one of their schools, have a meal with students and share pictures on social media. Thank you to all the leaders who took us up on the offer! Corvallis SD  Grants Pass SD ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams Parkrose SD (Post 1) Parkrose SD (Post 2)

Visit the Nightmare Factory!

Oregon’s longest running haunted house is back for another year! Nightmare Factory started in 1987 as a fundraiser for the Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD) and has continued ever since. Held on the grounds of the school and run by current and former OSD students, the Nightmare Factory runs every Friday and Saturday night in October and is also open on Halloween and the night before. There are new ways to experience the Nightmare Factory, so check out their website for more information and how to get your tickets!

Be sure to check out our Twitter page and follow us to stay up-to-date on everything that's happening in education in Oregon!

Oregon DMV Launches Online Knowledge Testing

Earlier this month, the Oregon DMV launched online knowledge testing. They are asking schools to promote this new service to teens and their parents. To help you spread the word, they have created a communication toolkit for your use. There are also print and digital materials available for you to put up around your building or post to your social media channels. You can download the materials directly from the online knowledge testing page.

Thank you for helping to get this important news out as broadly as possible. If you have questions about these materials or the new service, please contact DMV directly. 

DMV Contact: Lisa Martinez, DMV Change and Engagement Manager

ODE In the News

ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams sat down with KATU to talk about her goals and priorities.

OSBA highlighted the Community Care Program in the Phoenix-Talent School District that is one of four in the state receiving funds through ODE’s Community Care Demonstration Project.

The Madras Pioneer looked at how the Jefferson County 509J School District is helping students using funds provided through ODE’s 21^st Century Community Learning Centers program.

Student Spotlight

The Oregonian talked with Portland-area high school students who got to visit Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with an eye towards a career in science.

The Oregon City News featured the members of the city’s Youth Advisory Commission who planned and organized a mental health fair.

The Hermiston Herald sat down with the first Umatilla School District student to ever earn an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree before the start of their senior year.

The Salem Reporter followed students in Salem-Keizer’s newest career program where they are training to be therapists and social workers.