Nominations for Teacher of the Year now open; deadline Feb. 6

Jan 15

Photo Above - Sherman County School’s Ashley Macnab won the coveted title for her amazing work with students at the school in Moro in 2023. She is a first-grade teacher. She also got a visit that same year from Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek.

By Tom Peterson

Do you know a great teacher?

A teacher that is willing to put their time in after school to help struggling students - a teacher that spends their own time and money making sure your child is getting a good education, is becoming a good person.

Maybe it’s a teacher that excels in the classroom and provides great mentorship on the sports field.

We’ve all had them - that teacher that made us work harder, think deeper and push for something more than we thought we could achieve. That person not only taught us numbers but character, respect and understanding that the system can be changed from within by embracing the rebelliousness of our ideas and applying them with a thoughtful and strategic approach.

Honor them. Name Them. Nominate Them.

And do it before the deadline of Feb. 6.

Here’s how: Click here and fill out this simple form.

The Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, is holding the Oregon Teacher of the Year program by honoring exemplary educators in every region of the state.

Regional Teachers of the Year will receive a cash prize of $1,000 and will be celebrated across the state. The 2023-24 Oregon Teacher of the Year will receive a $10,000 cash prize (with a matching $5,000 going to their school!) and serve as a spokesperson and representative for all Oregon teachers.

Here’s how the process works:

• Nominations are open statewide through February 6, 2025. Anybody can nominate a teacher.

• Teachers will submit their applications by April 6, 2025

• Oregon Education Service Districts will select a winner from their region

• Regional Teachers of the Year will be honored across the state in September 2025!

• In October 2025 one of the Regional Teachers of the Year will be named the 2025-26 Oregon

Teacher of the Year and will be eligible to apply for the honor of the National Teacher of the Year!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Oregon Teacher of the Year program coordinator Michelle Goodness at michelle.goodness@ode.oregon.gov; 971-209-8855.