Julie Gilbertson named one of 17 Oregon Regional Teachers of the Year
Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) --- Julie Gilbertson, a first-grade teacher at John Tuck Elementary in Redmond, Ore., will be named one of Oregon's 17 Regional Teachers of the Year for the 2026-27 school year.
Gilbertson will be honored tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. during a surprise all-school assembly at John Tuck Elementary.
The award is presented by the Oregon Department of Education in partnership with the Oregon Lottery. Each Regional Teacher of the Year receives a $1,000 cash prize and moves forward as a semi-finalist for the statewide 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year award.
Gilbertson, who has taught at John Tuck Elementary for 20 years, was nominated for the award by a school parent who praised her dedication to her students. “When considering a teacher to uplift, I think the energetic powerhouse of someone like Julie Gilbertson cannot be overstated,” the parent wrote in the nomination. “Though she would never present herself or seek out such recognition, I believe she does it because that is who she is, at her core. She not only believes in her impact, but she observes it with each student and each year over her 20 year tenure at the school.”
In her nomination materials, Gilbertson expressed her commitment to creating an inclusive classroom environment. “Creating a classroom environment where every student feels valued for their unique identity is more than a professional goal for me. It is a personal mission,” Gilbertson said. “I am driven to ensure my students never feel the need to shrink themselves. I believe that to see change, one must be an example for it.”
Regional Teachers of the Year are nominated by students, colleagues, administrators, family members or friends. Candidates undergo a selection process managed by the 19 Education Service Districts across Oregon, where regional panels evaluate applicants on instructional expertise, leadership, commitment to equity, community involvement and educational vision.
Oregon Department of Education Director Charlene Williams commended the regional honorees for their leadership and dedication. “We are so proud of this year's Regional Teachers of the Year who consistently demonstrate hard work, build strong relationships, empower their students and create classroom environments that lead to student success,” Williams said. “As mentors, advocates and community leaders, they show us all that the best is on display in schools large and small, rural and urban, from the first years of schooling to the final preparations for a student's next steps beyond high school. We thank them for their inspiration and can't wait to see what they do next.”
The recognition program is funded through a partnership with the Oregon Lottery, which has allocated more than $10 billion to public education in Oregon since 1995. Over the past year, nearly $4 million in lottery funds went to the Redmond School District and Deschutes County received over $14 million. Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells praised the educators recognized through the program. “These are exceptional educators who inspire students daily across Oregon,” Wells said. “We are honored to celebrate their dedication and the lasting impact they have on our students and families.”
The full list of all 17 regional winners will be published on the Oregon Teacher of the Year website on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. The 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year will be announced later this fall, with the statewide winner receiving a $10,000 cash prize and an additional $5,000 for their school.
