Recognition is part of McMinnville’s Distinguished Service Awards
Congratulations to teacher Melissa Hernandez, who has been named the 2023 Educator of the Year for McMinnville’s Distinguished Service Awards!
Her nomination noted “Melissa’s care and loving nature extends to both children and colleagues alike. The entire Memorial community values her expertise. She has helped both teachers and children deal with significant behaviors and unique disabilities, and she has provided a curriculum to help build social/emotional skills. She is supportive and encouraging in all her interactions and does an amazing job of meeting her students’ academic, behavioral and emotional needs.”
Hernandez also supports other special education educators across the district and helps create accessible sports and extracurricular activities for students with all needs. She also launched the district’s Peer Volunteer program, helping students learn about different types of special needs and offers parents “Respite Days” to help them have time away from the role of caretaker.
She has been with the district since 2012 and teaching at Memorial since 2018.
The Distinguished Service Awards recognize McMinnville-area residents for their volunteerism and community involvement. Awardees will be celebrated at a banquet, scheduled for Wednesday, May 15, in The Bindery Event Space, 610 N.E. Fourth Street.
The Distinguished Educator of the Year has been recognizing and honoring outstanding educators since 1974. Past winners include:
2022 – Kindra Butler
2021 – Emily Wilcox
2020 – (pandemic pause)
2019 – Jerod Harney
2018 – Molly Hay
2017 – Susanne Sayles
2016 – Kelly Carlson
2015 – Erik Svec
2014 – Reid Kimura
2013 – David Clauson
2012 – Angela Darrow
2011 – Cory Eklund
2010 – Kerrie Savage
2009 – Jennifer Sipprell
2008 – Veronica Chase
2007 – Jeff Templeton
2006 – Kathleen Fraser
2005 – Dixie Seibel
2004 – Beth Downs
2003 – Judy Catt
2002 – Dianne Massey
2001 – Kathy Baird
2000 – Tony Vicknair
1999 – Jodi Garritson
1998 – Mary Lukehart
1997 – Steve Tillery
1996 – H. D. Weddell
1995 – Boyd Keyser
1994 – Shane Kimura
1993 – Andrea Brown
1992 – Marilyn Salter
1991 – Ursula Dye
1990 – Sheila Lenker
1989 – Jim Ray
1988 – Rick Carpenter
1987 – Jeff Autencio
1986 – Lan Carpenter
1985 – Kathy Cerwinske
1984 – Barry Lilly
1983 – Allison Perrin Autencio
1982 – Lorna Miller / Mary Ringer
1981 – Ann Towsley
1980 – Charles Biederman
1979 – Veneta Volp
1978 – Donald Hicks
1977 – Deborah Johansen
1976 – Carolyn Rice
1975 – Ron Wilkenson
1974 – Bill Maas