Oregon City High School math teacher Jennifer Crutcher is in the running for the 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year award.
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) announced Tuesday, Sept. 22, that Crutcher had been selected as the Clackamas regional Teacher of the Year. She is one of four educators advancing to the final round of statewide consideration, OregonLive first reported.
The stakes are real. If Crutcher wins the top award, announced later this fall, she would receive $10,000 and Oregon City High School would receive an additional $5,000.
Crutcher was surprised with the honor during a celebration at the school. Clackamas Education Service District Superintendent Larry Didway and Oregon City School District Superintendent Dayle Spitzer both attended, according to OregonLive's coverage.
A student nominated Crutcher, crediting her with making advanced math feel possible. The student wrote that Crutcher helped them take on AP Calculus courses they never expected to attempt.
"With her support, I took more higher level math classes (AP Calculus) than I ever thought I would, or could, and passed them with solid grades," the student wrote in the nomination.
In her application, Crutcher wrote that she connects classroom lessons to the broader community by leading students into real-world problem-solving. She said students learn best when they can see where they belong in the solution.
Crutcher is among 17 regional Teachers of the Year chosen across Oregon. Regional winners are nominated by students, colleagues, administrators, friends or family members and evaluated on leadership, instructional expertise and community involvement. Each regional winner receives a $1,000 award through a partnership between ODE and the Oregon Lottery.
ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams said in a statement that the regional winners demonstrate strong relationships with students and create classroom environments that drive student success.
The names of the other three educators advancing to the final round had not been released as of Wednesday, Sept. 23. The full list of all 17 regional winners is expected to be posted on the Oregon Teacher of the Year website on Friday, Sept. 25.
