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Nate Jackson won a $10,000 check from the Oregon Lottery and $5,000 for Willamette High School. Jackson, who teaches social studies and a Black studies class, says he tries to present students with multiple perspectives and let them form their own opinions.
At an assembly complete with Willamette High School’s pep band and cheer squad, officials presented Nate Jackson with the Oregon Teacher of the Year award Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Jackson won $10,000 from the Oregon Lottery and, by extension, Willamette High School won $5,000. The event marked the second year in a row that a Lane County teacher has won the award.
The title is given to a teacher who exemplifies “leadership, instructional expertise, community involvement, understanding of educational issues, professional development and vision.”
Jackson also serves as an emcee for the University of Oregon Athletic Department for men’s basketball and football events, and in true emcee fashion, he accepted the award by hyping up the crowd.
“Thank you, students,” he said, “Because of you, I get to do what I love to do.”
He also thanked Jesus, his social studies department, his family and his principal, Alyssa Dodds, for her role in adapting a Black history class for Willamette, a class that Jackson teaches.
State and local officials were present at the assembly to honor Jackson.
“As he was described by one colleague, ‘He understands that teaching goes beyond content. It is about supporting students as they grow into confident and capable individuals. He brings energy, authenticity and purpose to his work every day,’” said Charlene Williams, superintendent of the Oregon Department of Education.
Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells said Jackson was chosen from about 1,200 nominees and 17 finalists. For the rest of the school year, Jackson will receive professional development and access to a national network of other teachers of the year. He will also serve as a representative and spokesperson for all Oregon teachers.
Dodds said Jackson’s laughter and presence in the hallways have always helped him build rapport with students outside of class, but his mentorship with the Black Student Union and the girls’ flag football team have helped him expand his reach among Willamette’s more than 1,300 students.
His semester-long Black studies class focuses on Black history and the Black leaders of various fields who have shaped it. It also gets into topics relevant to students’ lives, like the origin of the N-word.
Jackson said he presents multiple perspectives of history in his classes — not just the white perspective — to help students form their own opinions and thoughts about topics.
“Kids request his class, which is really neat,” Dodds said.
Jackson said he’ll be saving, spending and giving away his $10,000. But the money and Teacher of the Year title are just a bonus to the real reward for Jackson: the daily impact on students’ lives he has as a teacher.
“Right before I came to this assembly, there was a teacher who told me that another student said that he wouldn’t have come to school if it weren’t for going to my class,” he said. “To me, that’s just the best reward a teacher can get.”
