Oregon Department of Education - Oregon Achieves Together

NEWS RELEASE: 18 Educators Honored for their Outstanding Leadership and Impact

Oregon Department of Education sent this bulletin at 09/20/2024 02:30 PM PDT

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NEWS RELEASE
September 20, 2024
Media Contact: Marc Siegel

18 Educators Honored for their Outstanding Leadership and Impact

Oregon Celebrates 2024-25 Regional Teachers of the Year

(Salem, OR) – Today, the Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, announced Oregon’s 2024-25 Regional Teachers of the Year! Over the past week, communities all across the state have held celebrations recognizing these 18 regional winners.

Classroom teachers in Oregon are essential to creating conditions for students to experience belonging, wellness, and academic excellence. The Oregon Teacher of the Year program recognizes and honors educators who lead with the exceptional dedication, knowledge, and skills that place those values at the center of their practice.

“Now more than ever, we need powerful educators like these,” said Dr. Charlene Williams, Director of the Oregon Department of Education. “Each Regional Teacher of the Year has earned this recognition because they champion every student, uplifting and empowering them to achieve, to create, and to feel a sense of belonging not only in the classroom, but in the wider world, as well. Students and families in Oregon are fortunate to have teachers like these whose inspiring contributions create lasting impacts that ripple out into their communities and beyond.”

Each year, regional winners are identified through a local nomination, application and selection process facilitated by regional Education Service Districts. Applicants submit essays and letters of support, and are assessed by a diverse panel of regional representatives on the attributes of leadership, instructional expertise, commitment to equity, community involvement, understanding of educational issues, vision and professional development.

Thanks to a partnership with Oregon Lottery, each Regional Teacher of the Year will receive a $1,000 award and is automatically considered for the honor of 2024-25 Oregon Teacher of the Year which will be announced later this fall.

“These exceptional teachers inspire and encourage students every day in classrooms across Oregon,” said Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells. “We are proud to honor their contributions and vital role in making our communities stronger.”

Congratulations to Oregon’s 2024-25 Regional Teachers of the Year! Photos and news releases from each region are available in the links below.

Do you know an extraordinary, licensed, preK-12 public school teacher? You can nominate them for 2025-26 Oregon Teacher of the Year by visiting oregonteacheroftheyear.org.

Thanks to the Oregon Department of Education’s partnership with the Oregon Lottery, the 2024-25 Oregon Teacher of the Year will receive a $10,000 cash prize (with an additional $5,000 going to their school).

A Spanish Lan guage version of this press release is available.

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