Oregon Excellence Awards in Teaching the English Language Arts To recognize excellence in teaching, the Oregon Council of Teachers of English (OCTE) invites any Oregon school to nominate one outstanding English language arts educator for one of these prestigious annual awards. A strong equal opportunity organization, we welcome nominations from anyone at any level of education—elementary, middle, secondary, two-year college, four-year college or university—but nominations must be limited to one per school. To be nominated, the educator must have taught at least five years in any Oregon school at any of the following four levels--elementary, middle, high school, and post secondary. In the opinion of the nominator, the educator must have created a particularly noteworthy record in teaching the English language arts. The nominator—with or without the assistance of the candidate—should nominate via online form. OCTE invites all Oregon teachers to submit completed Nomination Forms and Paragraphs to the OCTE Board of Directors for review and selection of annual Finalists. Nominations will open after the OCTE Fall Conference and close on January 15. After receiving nominations, the Council will call on experts to select finalists. Those teachers selected as finalists will be required to submit additional supporting evidence. Finalists and award winners will be recognized at the Fall OCTE conference.
Teacher of Excellence Award Winners Congratulations to Katharine Johnson and Laura Mundorff, winners of the 2024 Oregon Excellence Award in Teaching the English Language Arts. The research and grants committee of OCTE has selected two recipients of the Oregon Excellence in Teaching the Language Arts Award. We are recognizing Laura Mundorff for Excellence in Teaching the Language Arts at the high school level. Katharine Johnson is recognized as the Middle Grade Teacher of Excellence. Both Laura and Katharine are exceptional educators.
Outside of the classroom, Laura is a champion of integrating students with developmental disabilities. She co-founded an intramural basketball program with teams made of students with developmental disabilities and teens without. The students work together to find success as a team. Laura petitioned North Clackamas SD to provide a paid coach and assistant coach to the program so all students had equal access to coaching. Now, each high school in NCSD has paid coaching positions for all basketball teams. Not only is Laura an exceptional ELA teacher, she is also an equity-focused educator who keeps the needs of her students and her colleagues at the foreground of her work.”  Katharine Johnson teaches at Vernon School in Portland Public School District. She was nominated by Susie Costa who noted, “One of Katharine's most commendable attributes is her ability to foster a sense of belonging and community in her classroom. Every student feels valued, seen, and safe under her guidance. This inclusive atmosphere has transformed her middle school students into eager learners, ready to engage with the material she presents. A highlight of Katharine's teaching approach is the creation of an annual anthology featuring her students' work. This project not only showcases their achievements but also fosters a sense of joy and pride within the school community. Witnessing the excitement surrounding the publication of this anthology is a testament to Katharine's positive impact on her students. OCTE is pleased to recognize these two extraordinary educators for their inspiring work. Congratulations to Katharine Johnson and Laura Mundorff.
Livingston is a 20-year veteran educator, currently serving as an English teacher at Newberg High School. Nominator Holly Miele, the coordinator of Teaching and Learning at Newberg Public Schools, says of Livingston, “She is part of the heart and soul of D Hall at Newberg High School. She creatively and skillfully engages everyone from our AP Language achievers, to our struggling students in our mainstream ELA courses. She consistently meets students where they are and challenges and supports them to move forward in their writing skills and reading comprehension. Her students are constantly empowered to speak up and contribute in meaningful ways. She is also a stellar teammate to her fellow teachers by developing authentic partnerships and powerful curriculum that gets everyone on the same page. She is a key reason that we create lifelong learners in our classrooms and she needs to be recognized for this outstanding work.” Fulsher teaches 8th grade language arts at Gordon Russell Middle School. Nominator Jeanne Sheets-Sagoo says Fulsher “pour[s] all of her energy, time, and compassion into her role as an 8th grade instructor. Michelle is an exemplary teacher. She serves as a teacher leader, both on her own LA team at Gordon Russell Middle School and for other district teachers. Michelle frequently steps up to share lessons and teaching strategies with other MS teachers at district trainings. She is a noteworthy presenter who keeps both student - and adult learners - engaged. Michelle most recently has helped to draft an 8th grade scope and sequence, lending her years of expertise and experience to a task centered in equity and access for all students. On her own time, Michelle has offered a teacher learning course to her colleagues in the district. Michelle also worked to earn her National Board Certification in 2011. Michelle Fulsher is a gifted educator that creates a classroom of rigor and engagement; she remarkably finds time to lift up her colleagues, as well.” OCTE sends thanks and applause to Jennifer and Michelle for making a difference in the lives of Oregon students and teachers alike. |
Laura Mundorff teaches at Rex Putnam High School in the North Clackamas School District. According to her nominator, Maika Yeigh, “