Clatskanie, OR – The Oregon Small Schools Association (OSSA) is proud to announce that Kayleen Jones has been named its 2025-26 Teacher of the Year. Kayleen is a teacher at Clatskanie Middle High School, part of the Clatskanie School District, located in Clatskanie Oregon, in Columbia County. 

Salem, Oregon- The Oregon Association of Secondary School Administrators, a subset of the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA), has named Robin Buckingham, principal of Claggett Creek Middle School in Salem-Keizer Public Schools, as a 2026 Oregon Middle School Principal of the Year. COSA Executive Director Dr. Krista Parent surprised Buckingham with the announcement during a school visit on Friday, December 19.

Salem, Oregon- The Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) honored Umatilla School District Superintendent Heidi Sipe with the Colt Gill Leadership Award at the 2025 Oregon School Law Conference in Eugene last week. The award recognizes Sipe’s extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to public education, particularly on behalf of rural and emerging bilingual students.

La Grande, Oregon- The Oregon Association of School Executives (OASE) is proud to announce George Mendoza, Superintendent of the La Grande School District, as the 2026 Oregon Superintendent of the Year. Mendoza was selected for his visionary leadership, deep community roots, and unwavering dedication to student achievement. He will now move forward as Oregon’s nominee for the AASA National Superintendent of the Year award.