Sutherlin High School teacher selected as 2022 Teacher of the Year Finalist
Written by Press Release on November 9, 2021
Sutherlin, OR – The Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, is pleased to celebrate Sutherlin High School teacher Wes Crawford as a 2022 Teacher of the Year Finalist, and award both Wes and his school with a $2,000 cash prize!
Crawford was selected as one of four finalists for 2022 Oregon Teacher of the Year, which was announced in September.
Crawford grew up in Sutherlin and attended Sutherlin High School. Today, he is the Agricultural Science and Technology teacher as well as an FFA Advisor. He has been teaching at Sutherlin High School for 14 years. In May, Crawford received recognition as Douglas ESD’s 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year, taking home a $500 cash prize.
“It’s the mission of FFA to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing student potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education,” said Sutherlin High School Principal Jon Martz. “Wes Crawford fulfills this mission and is an intricate part of our school success. He forms positive relationships with students and encourages kids to learn new and challenging skills, while never sacrificing rigor and expectations.
Serving a rural area of Oregon, Crawford stresses the importance of preparing students for their journeys after high school. “As someone who has students go down every possible option into a multitude of careers, it is on me as a teacher to make it clear that every purposeful path is valued and important,” Crawford noted in his application. “Creating an environment where students can be both challenged and grow ensures that every student, regardless of their prior experience, can be confident when it is time for them to interview for a scholarship, a college admittance, or a job.”
“As a parent, teacher, and community member, it is clear the vital and dynamic role our schools and teachers fulfill in the lives of our students and in our community,” Crawford explains further. “It is so evident how important this has been, and will continue to be a critical influence in the success of our communities’ futures. Our schools will nurture, support, elevate and prioritize the lives and needs of young people. They will be one of the most important influences of what it will look like for a community to thrive over time.”
