Robert Parker, a licensed and practicing architect who took a non-traditional path to teaching, was named 2024-25 Regional Teacher of the Year for Clackamas County in a surprise celebration at the Sabin-Schellenberg Professional Technical Center in Milwaukie Sept. 20.

To the excitement of his students and colleagues, Parker was interrupted at the beginning of a midday class, when he received a visit from district and regional education leaders to present him with his “teacher of the year” honor. Parker is one of 18 teachers receiving regional awards across the state this week, as part of the Oregon Teacher of the Year program.

Parker began teaching in Sabin-Schellenberg’s career and technical education program seven years ago, after being asked to teach an architecture course as a sideline to his private architecture practice, and discovering he loved helping students develop their design skills. The center serves all high schools in the North Clackamas School District, and Parker has expertly leveraged his industry experience to create engaging learning opportunities for his students.

“North Clackamas School District is thrilled to celebrate and again honored that one of Oregon’s Regional Teachers of the Year is a part of our district,” said Superintendent Shay James. “We are incredibly proud of Mr. Parker for his unwavering dedication to our students. Aligned with our district’s focus on enhancing Student Experience & Success, Bob consistently demonstrates engaging and effective instructional practices that inspire and empower students to explore and pursue their career aspirations within our district’s professional technical center.”

 

Letters from colleagues and parents supporting Parker’s nomination cited the joy he brings to his classroom, his tireless student advocacy and his creativity in developing diverse learning methods to spark the interest of his students. A teacher who believes every student is “capable of greatness,” Parker facilitates multiple opportunities to expose students to working industry professionals and real-world design challenges. He’s developed a partnership with a local furniture company, The Joinery, to provide leftover lumber to students, who use it to design and create products that are auctioned off to help fund the program. He’s also leveraged grants and donations to create a “makerspace” at Sabin-Schellenberg that is filled with professional-grade equipment and serves as a community hub for technology and innovation.

“Bob Parker is a master teacher in every sense of the term,” said Sabin-Schellenberg Principal Ajai Huja. “He fully engages his students by creating predictable routines and multiple choices to approaching learning goals. He is a strong advocate for his program and has worked hard to acquire resources and technology needed to provide amazing learning experiences. Perhaps most important, he has built strong relationships with students. His classroom is full of laughter, enthusiastic dialogue and unfettered joy.”

“In an exceptional pool of candidates, Bob’s commitment to integrating architectural design into his classroom and fostering meaningful community engagement stood out to our selection panel,” said Clackamas ESD Superintendent Larry Didway. “Career and technical education provides critical hands-on learning and opens pathways to future professional success. We are thrilled to recognize an educator who inspires his students to push their limits and take on advanced, real-world challenges, even while still in high school.”

Parker was selected from more than 250 regional nominees and an exceptionally strong group of 11 finalists, including two other CTE instructors. Other top contenders for this year’s award included:

  • Cesar Arellano-Sanchez, social studies, Clackamas High School
  • Bridget Considine, special education, Clackamas Education Service District
  • Kelly Gavrich, dual language instruction, Candy Lane Elementary School, Oregon City
  • Jesse Hendryx-Dobson, social studies, Rex Putnam High School, Milwaukie
  • Timothy Manes, CTE engineering, West Linn High School
  • Cynthia McGean, multiple grades, Linwood Elementary School, Milwaukie
  • Dawn Patrick, English, Adrienne C. Nelson High School, Happy Valley
  • Caleb Spiegel, multiple grades, Oak Grove Elementary School, Milwaukie
  • Sarah Vannice, STEAM/innovation, River Grove Elementary School, Lake Oswego
  • Angela Wright, CTE building construction, Sabin-Schellenberg Professional Technical Center, Milwaukie

Note: listing includes school of employment during 2023-24 school year

The Teacher of the Year awards program is sponsored by the Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery. Regional winners receive a $1,000 cash prize.