Filipina named Oregon’s teacher of the year

Ethelyn Tumalad is an English and AVID teacher at Clackamas High School. OTYA

A Philippine-born teacher who started working at an Oregon high school only four years ago has been named the state’s Teacher of the Year 2022.

Ethelyn Tumalad, an English and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) teacher at Clackamas High School, earlier was named regional teacher of the year, which qualified her for the statewide award program.

The AVID program began in Oregon in 2004. Now, there are 73 districts on it is present in 216 secondary schools, ten elementary/secondary schools throughout the state.

Tumalad immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines when she was five years old. Colleagues have noted that her experience as an immigrant influences her work and activities in education.

She is advisor for Clackamas High School’s Asian Pacific Islander Student Union, leader and co-facilitator of the school’s BIPOC Educator Affinity Group, and member of Clackamas High’s Equity Committee and Educator of Color Advisory Committee, among others.

Ethelyn Tumalad with some of her students at Clackamas High School. CONTRIBUTED

“Ethelyn has always been passionate about teaching–and being very visible and available as a woman of color,” said Tumalad mentor Maika Yeigh.

“She puts her care for her students at the forefront in her work. I think her biggest gift is bringing her true self into her classroom and sharing that with her students.”

Tumalad completed her master’s in the College of Education’s Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP) in 2017, and started at Clackamas High School that fall.

Sponsored by the Oregon Department of Education in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, the program provides the state winner and finalists cash awards and grants for their schools in addition to a $500 cash prize to the regional teachers of the year.