Oregon Teacher of the Year Award Goes to Clackamas High Staffer

OREGON CITY, OR —A teacher from Clackamas High School is the 2022 Oregon Teacher of the Year. Ethelyn Tumalad teaches Language Arts and Advancement Via Individual Determination.

Tumalad says that her identity as a person of color – she moved here from the Philippines when she was 5 years old – makes her aware of the importance of being a positive role model for others.

" "t is important that students themselves see their advisors work together to build bridges among each other’s marginalized identities," Tumalad said.

"As an educator who always wants to ensure that students become change agents in the classroom, I lead my students with empathy and truly believe that modeling is the best form of education."

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It's a lesson that apparently has paid off. One student wrote a letter of recommendation stating that Tumalad "is the reason many kids even came to school.

"She taught me to be myself in a world that's contantly telling me to be something I'm not."

Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill praiser her, saying that she "infuses her classroom with community, belonging, and empathy."