Awards Banquet on Wednesday, May 14
Patton Middle School teacher Tramaine Payne has been named Educator of the Year by McMinnville’s Distinguished Service Awards. He was surprised with the news this morning at a school staff meeting. (Pictured, from left, with Principal Allison Eitzen and Acting Superintendent Steffanie Frost.)
Payne joined the McMinnville School District in January 2003 as an Alternative Education teacher at Patton and transitioned to PE teacher in 2006. He has spent 22 years teaching at Patton.
His nomination noted his selflessness and kindness and said “He is innovative and creative when it comes to meeting the needs of our students where they are…. He can’t walk through the halls without a student shouting ‘Mr. Payne!’ and coming up and getting a high five…. It is not beyond him to ref a football game, attend an out of town basketball game, or watch a performance our students are in when he is invited. He truly cares about each student and will do anything he can to make their experience at our place the best it can be.”
The designation will be officially celebrated on Wednesday, May 14 at the Bindery Event Space from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. To purchase a table for 8, please email events@mcminnvillebindery.com.
In addition to the Educator honor, the Distinguished Service Awards will recognize others who have made a positive impact on the community, including
- Pablo Munoz Farms – Farmer of the Year
- Adam Garvin – Junior Citizen of the Year
- Paul Haddeland and Steve Rupp – Co-Men of the Year
- Sylla McClellan – Woman of the Year
The Distinguished Educator of the Year has been recognizing and honoring outstanding educators for 50 years. Past winners include:
2023 – Melissa Hernandez
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