4 Oregon Teachers Nominated For LifeChanger Of The Year Award

HILLSBORO, OR — Four Oregon teachers, including one in St. Paul, 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:

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

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

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

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

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.

St. Paul school district #45 office specialist and transportation director Oralia Vargas was nominated by district superintendent Joseph Wehrli.

"This is an individual who arrives early to work each day and is regularly the last to leave the district," Wehrli wrote in his nomination statement. "I recommend her without reservation for this award."

Translator, field trip coordinator, and sports games ticket-taker, Vargas, a 17-year St. Paul School District veteran, "has been instrumental in the success of all students in the St. Paul School District," Wehrli explained.

Vargas 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