2013 - Regional Teacher of the Year - Pamelia Valentine

Pamelia is a National Board Certified Teacher of visual arts at Oakland Bay Junior High School. Pamelia’s journey as a teacher is compelling. After a career as a nurse on an Alaskan island, her family moved back to Washington. When her husband was killed in an accident, Pamelia found herself at a crossroads. In an effort to find smaller class sizes for her children, she negotiated a deal with the administrator at the tiny Satsop School. In exchange for allowing her three out-of-district children to attend, Pamelia would teach music. It was this experience that helped Pamelia realize teaching was her true calling.



Now in her 13th year as a teacher, Pamelia has risen to the level of teacher leader at her school, in her community and at the national level. As the leader of her School Improvement Team, she has shepherded her school through a transition to standards-based learning and is currently working on the design of a school-within-a-school model for students who have gotten into trouble with the law. Pamelia also believes passionately in maximizing the use of school facilities for the benefit of the community and has worked with the Shelton Schools Foundation to open a community school at Oakland Bay. She was also recently elected the Pacific Region Middle Level Director for the National Arts Education Association.



In the classroom, students say Pamelia leads by example — giving her all every day. She encourages them to challenge themselves and reminds them that being “different” is a good thing. Colleagues admire Pamelia’s ability to infuse her arts classes with reading, writing and math, and she is a much sought-after collaborator and mentor.



Principal Bracken Budge praises Pamelia saying, “Her classroom is truly a positive, safe and rich learning environment that provides students with educational opportunities well beyond the basics of visual arts. Furthermore, Ms. Valentine puts students first, believes that all students can achieve at high levels, and does not give up on anyone, even those who have given up on themselves.”