4 Oregon Teachers Nominated For LifeChanger Of The Year Award

GRESHAM, OR — Four Oregon teachers, including one in Gresham, were nominated for the National Life Group Foundation's LifeChanger of the Year award for 2017-2018, which acknowledges the top K-12 teachers and school district staff who stand out among their peers as the best examples of excellence, leadership, and positive influence on students.

Hundreds of educators across the nation are nominated annually, with only 17 individual LifeChanger of the Year award recipients selected by the National Life Group's six-member selection committee. Winners will be revealed this spring.

This year's Oregon nominees are:

• Deanna Yucho — Hollydale Elementary School, Gresham-Barlow School District;

• Jeff Gower — Century High School, Hillsboro School District;

• Susan Duncan — Meadow Park Middle School, Beaverton School District; and

• Oralia Vargas — St. Paul Elementary School, St. Paul School District #45.

Nominated by school officials and parents alike, the nominees are considered based on the following criteria considered by the selection committee:

• Make a positive impact in the lives of students;
• Enhance their school or district’s atmosphere, culture and pride;
• Demonstrate exemplary leadership at the school and/or district level;
• Possess a proven record of professional excellence;
• Show commitment to building a nurturing environment that supports learning; and
• Adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards.

Yucho, a second-grade teacher at Hollydale, was nominated by Erica Bean, a parent of Yucho's former students.

"I've never met a teacher who truly loves her students quite like Ms. Yucho does," Bean said in her nomination statement. "Both of my children have had Ms. Yucho as their second-grade teacher, and the first time we met was at a parent teacher conference. I wanted to cry at the end; tears of joy, of course. The way she spoke about her job and the kids was true and passionate. She gives out her cell phone number to all the parents and said to call any time."

Following Yucho's nomination, others also took the time to write supportive comments on her nominee page, hosted by the National Life Group.

"Ms.Yucho is a life changing teacher. She deeply cares about her students," wrote Linda Klobas. "She also is a genuinely kind and compassionate individual. She brings joy by her smilies (sic) and comments every time you she (sic) her. She also recognizes when someone is in need or hurting. She never turns a blind eye. She responds in anyway she can to help. I am blessed to know Deanna Yucho."

"As a school counselor, i have admired the academic and social-emotional teaching," wrote Theresa Scott, child development specialist for the Gresham-Barlow School District. "She is one of the most skilled teachers I have ever known. Deanna has a remarkable ability to meet the needs of her students at every developmental level. She enjoys teaching, enjoys students, and especially enjoys teaching her students to be critical thinkers. She is a very positive influence!"

"As we all know, we have teachers who can change the world; she is one of them," Bean continued. "Nothing feels better than your kids coming home so happy to be in her class. I wish we had more teachers like her."

Yucho has the chance to win one of the following awards:

• One Grand Prize Winner will receive $10,000 to be shared with their school/district.
• Four Grand Prize Finalists will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school/district.
• 10 LifeChanger Award Winners will receive $3,000 to be shared with their school/district.
• One Spirit Award is given to the nominee whose community demonstrates the most support for their nomination. The winner will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school/district.
• One Spotlight Award is given each year to a nominee in a specific discipline. For 2017-2018, the award was given to Debra Santiago, who works as a secretary and bookkeeper in Orlando, FL. She received $5,000 to share with her school, Timber Lakes Elementary School.

According to National Life Group officials, "Winners are announced via surprise award ceremonies held at their schools. The grand prize finalists will also be honored at a national awards ceremony in spring 2018 in Bermuda, where the Grand Prize Winner will be revealed."

To check out Gower's LifeChanger of the Year nominee profile, for more information on the LifeChanger of the Year program, or to nominate someone from your school community, visit www.LifeChangeroftheYear.com.

Images via National Life Group Foundation, LifeChanger of the Year