The email shocked Caryn Anderson, a teacher at Abernethy Elementary School in Southeast Portland for eight years.
A parent had nominated Anderson for the OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education, and the email broke the news that Anderson, whose teaching career began 1999, had won. As part of the award, she received a check that would pay her mortgage for the next year.
“I just never had expected that after 24 years that anything like this would ever happen,” Anderson said. “I don’t like being the center of attention; I like to be in the background doing what I’m doing, because I love it.”
Anderson, who teaches fourth grade, was one of four Oregon teachers who received the OnPoint grand prize Friday for their dedication to the classroom. The credit union awarded each a $2,500 check for their school and another check to cover their rent or mortgage for one year.
The reality of winning is still settling in, Anderson said. The housing funds came at the perfect time, as Anderson is making repairs to her home following a flood caused by a burst pipe in December.
“Of all the years for this to happen, it couldn’t have happened at a better time,” Anderson said. “I feel like after all those hours and days of me being at work that this is a way to give back to my family.”
Anderson said her passion for her work comes from the students in her classroom. Over the years she realized that she was too absorbed in delivering her lessons and shifted her focus to building community first, she said.
“We start with a morning meeting every day,” Anderson said. “That’s something I didn’t used to dedicate time to, because I felt so much pressure to deliver academics. When we take that time to really build a community and get to know each other, we can lift each other up.”
Anderson was joined by fellow Portland Public Schools teacher Willie Williams, who won the award for high school teachers.
Williams, who teaches history and economics at Roosevelt High School in North Portland, was similarly surprised when the news reached his inbox.
“My class decided to nominate me, but I didn’t believe them at first,” he said. “It wasn’t until I got the email stating that I was one of the finalists that I actually believed them. I told them, ‘I feel like I already won. I’m a winner already just because you nominated me.’”
OnPoint reviewed applications from about 80 teachers, Williams said. Each applicant provides a portfolio of their work and a statement on their teaching philosophy, among other things. But what put Williams’ application above the rest was the glowing reviews from his students, others told him at the ceremony Friday.
Williams said that the check for his mortgage will help him put money in college funds for his five children.
“I still can’t believe it, but it’s a blessing not to have to worry about that,” Williams said.
In addition to teaching, Williams advises Roosevelt’s chapter of Black Student Union and serves as the school’s interim athletic director. He moved to Portland from New Orleans in 2020.
After 10 years in the classroom, he shares the same sentiments as Anderson, and said his connection with his students makes the job worth doing.
“I call everyone in my classroom family,” he said. “When I address the class in the morning, I say, ‘good morning family.’ Saying that, students feel welcome and that they want to open up.”
Samuel Platt, principal at Tumalo Community School, and Lucas Dix, a 6th-8th grade teacher at Rowe Middle School in Milwaukie, also won awards.
– Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744
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