Nominate a Teacher of the Year from your district!

ESD 105 facilitates the Regional Teacher of the Year program, which annually honors an educator who exemplifies teaching excellence in our south central Washington region.  Our regional honoree also serves as one of nine candidates statewide for Washington State Teacher of the Year (which is announced each fall).

School districts may forward applications from up to two nominees to ESD 105 no later than May 29, 2009.  Selection of our Regional Teacher of the Year occurs during the end of summer and is traditionally announced at the start of the new school year.  The Washington State Teacher of the Year selection committee then contacts and interviews the finalists for the statewide award in September.

Since the Washington State Teacher of the Year was first presented in 1962, five educators from the ESD 105 region have been named Washington State Teacher of the Year: Susan Johnson of Cle Elum-Roslyn (2009), Tamara Steen of Mabton (2004, and one of four finalists for the national award), Yvonne Ullas of Naches Valley (1998), Dan Zeutenhorst of Yakima (1977), and Robert Tormey of West Valley (1974).

For more information on the Teacher of the Year program, contact David Goehner, ESD 105 Public Information Officer.

Congratulations to
Cle Elum-Roslyn's Susan Johnson:
2009 Washington State
Teacher of the Year!


OSPI Supt. Terry Bergeson announced
Susan Johnson as the 2009
Washington State Teacher of the Year
on October 8, 2008. 
Learn more about our current ESD 105 Regional Teacher of the year here!

Forms for Teacher of the Year applications

2007-2008 Regional Teacher of the Year

Brenda Marler
Toppenish Middle School — Language arts, social studies, and literacy teacher
"I thoroughly enjoy diagnosing reading difficulties, developing a plan for remediation, then watching students thrive as they unlock the secret of successful reading."

2006-2007 ESD 105 Regional Teacher of the Year

Irene Longmire
Wahluke School District (Mattawa) — 2nd grade teacher
"Second grade is the best ever!  The kids have a joy for learning.  They're sponges -- just very eager to learn.  It's a perfect grade."

2005-2006 ESD 105 Regional Teacher of the Year

Judy Dorsett
Whitney Elementary School (Yakima School District) — 3rd grade teacher
"One of the joys of teaching is creating a classroom community whre the enthusiasm, interest, and learning are contagious."

2004-2005 ESD 105 Regional Teacher of the Year
2005 Washington State Teacher of the Year

Tamara Steen
Mabton Junior and Senior High Schools — English teacher
Tamara was also one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year.

2003-2004 ESD 105 Regional Teacher of the Year

Amy Davis
Harriet Thompson Elementary (Grandview) — 4th grade teacher
"I get to go to school each day and look forward to opening the door to 28 special and unique young individuals."