Seeking Nominations for Education Support Professional of the Year  

December 6, 2022 – Every public school community in Oregon is comprised of dedicated professionals who spend their day in support of students and educators. The Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, is proud to facilitate the Oregon Education Support Professional of the Year award. This award honors the contributions of individuals across the state who provide exemplary support of Oregon’s most valuable resource, our students.

The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2964 in May of 2019 which directed the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon State Lottery to collaborate in creating a program to honor an education support professional serving students in any grade from prekindergarten through grade 12.

Education Support Professionals (ESP) work together with teachers and administrators in Oregon public schools to perform a variety of jobs promoting quality education, fostering positive learning environments, offering nutritious meals, providing reliable transportation and maintaining safe and clean schools for all students.

Nominees must be employed in an Oregon public K-12 school district and embody the values of accountability, equity, excellence and integrity. The winner will be announced via a surprise event in the Spring, 2023. The winner will receive a $5,000 award.

Nominations for the 2023 Oregon Education Support Professional of the Year are open now through February 28, 2023: https://oregonteacheroftheyear.org/nominate-esp/