Rosa Floyd, a Mexico-born educator who has taught bilingual kindergarten in Woodburn for 22 years, was named Oregon’s 2023 Teacher of the Year on Wednesday.
In a statement, Oregon schools chief Colt Gill said, “Rosa Floyd is not only an exemplary educator, she is a treasured part of the Woodburn community. She’s made a positive impact in countless ways: from helping develop a district preschool program, to her volunteer work starting and supporting a parent education program, to her creation of a Mexican Folkloric dance group that spans students, staff and families.
“Rosa leads and fosters programs that bring people together,” Gill continued. “She is a mentor and an advocate whose positive impacts on the lives of students and families have been and will continue to be deeply felt for many years.”
She won $10,000 and her school, Nellie Muir IB School, was awarded $5,000.
Before moving to Spain and then to the United States, Floyd earned a graduate degree in architecture and interior design from the University of Guadalajara and later worked for the university designing secondary instructional materials for a state educational program.
When Floyd first moved to the U.S., she worked as an instructional assistant at a migrant summer school and high school in Hillsboro. Seeing the needs of Spanish-speaking students at the high school prompted a career change and led her to pursue a teaching license.
Gov. Kate Brown, who was on hand for the surprise award ceremony, said, “Drawing on her own background and life experiences, Rosa Floyd recognizes the critical need for students to see themselves reflected in their teachers, and their communities reflected in their classrooms.”
In her application for the award, Floyd wrote, “I feel that my responsibility as a teacher is to be a bridge that connects our parents with the school system. When families are involved in their children’s learning, children show improvement in academics, self-esteem, behavior, and attendance.
“One of my fundamental beliefs about teaching is that it has the power to create unity within a family, classroom, school and community … We always want to learn more about the culture of our students and their families and for them to realize the great impact that families have in this community. This learning and appreciation for different cultures and traditions will help our students to live with and understand other people.”
Oregon’s newly announced 2023 Teacher of the Year, Rosa Floyd poses with people including state schools chief Colt Gill at left in blue shirt, Gov. Kate Brown on Floyd’s left and folkloric dancers. (Photo by Jon Stanley / Oregon Lottery)
As the 2023 Oregon Teacher of the Year, Floyd will serve as a spokesperson and representative for all Oregon teachers. She will take a year-long leave from teaching and will receive professional development and networking with other state Teachers of the Year through the program, run by the Chief Council of State School Officers.
— Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @chalkup
