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SOESD ANNOUNCES SOUTHERN OREGON REGIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR

By Homepage, News

On behalf of the Oregon Department of Education, Southern Oregon Education Service District (SOESD) is proud to announce the selection of Ms. Tia McLean, kindergarten teacher at Helman Elementary School in the Ashland School District, as a 2019 Oregon Regional Teacher of the Year. Ā Ms. McLean will be honored at a Helman School assembly on March 21, 2019 at 9:30 AM, where she will be awarded a check for $500.00.

SOESD convened a Blue Ribbon Panel made up of diverse and unbiased panel members who equitably represented the geographic region of Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties. The panel, who reviewed six applications from a larger set of nominations, looked for a teacher who exemplified the following attributes:

  • Is an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher in any state-approved or accredited school, pre-kindergarten through grade twelve, who is planning to continue in an active teaching status
  • Is an expert in their field who guides students of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve excellence
  • Collaborates with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of respect and success
  • Deliberately connects the classroom and key stakeholders to foster a strong community at large
  • Demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside of the classroom walls that embodies lifelong learning
  • Expresses themselves in an engaging and articulate way

The Oregon Teacher of the Year Program started in 1955, and is managed by the Oregon Department of Education. Ā Anyone can nominate a candidate for the recognition, but teachers may not nominate themselves. Once selected, the Oregon Teacher of the Year is also a candidate to apply for the National Teacher of the Year recognition. Ā The selected teacher serves as the face and voice of exemplary educators across the state of Oregon, and engages and inspires other teachers and community leaders as a representative of the profession.

The Oregon Department of Education chose in 2017-18 to expand the selection process for the Ā nominees. The goal of the expansion is to honor teachers in every region of the state. Education Service Districts across Oregon reviewed applications submitted from their geographic region and facilitated a Blue Ribbon Panel using a review process to identify winners in their regions. Ā Thirteen winners will go on to be considered for Oregon Teacher of the Year, which will be decided in September.

SOESD is proud of the amazing teachers in our three county region, exemplified by Ms. McLean, who are focused on quality teaching, learning, and student achievement.

SOESD Migrant Program Participant Mrs. Raquel Garay Receives National Migrant Parent of the Year Award!

By Homepage, Migrant Ed/ELL/Indian Ed, News

Raquel Garay has been named the 2019 National Migrant Parent of the year after being named the Oregon Migrant Parent of the year in 2018. Raquel will be receiving recognition for the national award at the National Migrant Education Conference. The Oregon and national awards recognize Raquel for her excellent leadership skills and passion to help better her community.

Raquel has been part of the Southern Oregon Education Service District (SOESD) Migrant Education Program for over a decade. She currently holds the position of Vice President of the Migrant Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) at Eagle Point School District where her child attends, and is the regional representative for Southern Oregon on the Migrant State Parent Advisory Committee (SPAC), where she also serves as Vice -President. Raquel has also been a member of the Eagle Point School Districtā€™s Budget Committee, Bond Committee, and Soccer Club, as well as the Southern Oregon University Latino Programs Planning Committee.

Additionally over the last three years, through the Northwest Health Foundation (NWHF) Healthy Beginnings + Healthy Communities grant written and facilitated by the SOESD Migrant Education program, migrant parents have been able to attend various leadership development conferences, as well as the NWHF Gatherings hosted by different communities. Raquel has attended every one of these meetings for three years and clearly represented the voice of migrant parents.

The Rogue Valley is home to many amazing individuals who change and make our community a better place to be. We are lucky to have people like Raquel Garay advocating for the future of her own children and the children in our community that are part of the SOESD Migrant Education Program. Raquel is no stranger to positively using her voice to improve outcomes for students and families through helping others better understand community needs.

Press Contact: Charlie Bauer, Migrant Education Coordinator Southern Oregon Education Service District (541) 776-8590 | charlie_bauer@soesd.k12.or.us

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