Rosemary Tyson teaches sixth grade math at Obsidian Middle School. Principal Tami Nakamura tells KBND News Tyson has a special way of connecting with her students, "She helps them to really become mathematicians. She refers to them as future mathematicians and really helps them to build their confidence. So, there’s a lot of discussion and questioning so that the skills are really set, so they understand, really clearly, what they’re learning before they move on."

 

Tyson has been at Obsidian more than 10 years. "She has a way about her, when working with the kids and, her approach and her style is really unique," says Nakamura, "She does a lot of working on mathematical mindset so kids want to learn how to do math." She adds, "With Ms. Tyson, she’s a pretty strict teacher, but they love her. I think it’s the relationship piece; they know she believes they can do it, and then she shows them how they can do it."

 

This year, the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Lottery expanded the annual program to celebrate teachers in all parts of the state. Each regional winner receives $500 from the Oregon Lottery and is in the running for the statewide 2019 Teacher of the Year award, announced in September. The last Teacher of the Year from Redmond was Carrie Carpenter, from Hugh Hartman Middle School, in 2003.