QuickTake:

Special education teacher Sally Golden won a $10,000 cash award for herself and a $5,000 cash award for Springfield Public Schools’ Community Transition Program, a place for special needs youth to learn life and job skills after high school.

Sally Golden was in for a surprise Friday morning when she was named Oregon Teacher of the Year.

The Springfield special education teacher thought she was giving a speech to a lively crowd of elementary schoolers in the gym at Two Rivers-Dos Rios Elementary as a part of her duties as Regional Teacher of the Year.

Instead, Charlene Williams, director of the Oregon Department of Education, was there with Springfield administrators. They presented Golden with the statewide award and a $10,000 cash prize from the Oregon State Lottery.

“This teacher believes in every student’s ability to grow and shine,” Williams told the elementary school students. “She teaches in a very special program that helps students who are learning in different ways and make sure they feel proud of who they are.”

Golden immediately recognized her fellow staff and students at the Community Transition Program, a place where 18- to 21-year-old special needs students learn skills, including how to cook, ride the bus, get a job and go to the gym in order to help them transition to life after high school.

Charlene Williams, director of the Oregon Department of Education, speaks to a crowd of elementary school students at Two Rivers-Dos Rios Elementary on Oct. 3, 2025. She presented the Oregon Teacher of the Year award to Springfield teacher Sally Golden. Credit: Lilly St. Angelo / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

“I get to work with truly amazing individuals every single day, and that’s why I am excited to come to work every day, even Mondays,” Golden said.

In addition to Golden’s prize, the program will also receive a $5,000 cash award. Those amounts are in addition to the $1,000 that Golden won for Regional Teacher of the Year that was designated for both personal and professional use.

Golden’s message to students

Golden, who attended Springfield Public Schools as a child and played middle school basketball in the very gym where she received the award, spoke to Dos Rios students about the power of good teachers.

“Think in your head, just think about this quietly in your head, ‘Who is your favorite teacher?’” she said to the students. “We all have one, or two or three, or maybe even 10.”

Golden talked about her favorites, including her first-grade teacher, Mrs. Benz, who saw her potential and gave her extra things to do to enrich her school days. She also mentioned her fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Price, who gave her a set of “The Chronicles of Narnia” book series that she still has.

“Teachers make an impact on you, and they remember you, too, you know,” Golden said. “You make an impact on them, big time. Each student over here and every student I’ve ever had is in my heart and has shaped me and made me a better person.”

Golden is in her 21st year of teaching and was the first person in her family to graduate from college. One of her favorite parts of her job as coordinator of the Community Transition Program is helping her students navigate challenging social situations. She said she will discuss with her students and co-workers how to spend the $5,000 prize for the program.

“I’d like to make sure we use it in a way that feels like it could benefit everybody,” Golden said.

Two Rivers-Dos Rios Elementary School students sing a song at the beginning of the Oct. 3 convocation where Sally Golden was awarded Oregon Teacher of the Year. Golden is a special education teacher at the Community Transition Program for young adults. Credit: Lilly St. Angelo / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

The Teacher of the Year program

The Oregon Teacher of the Year is an award given jointly by the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Lottery.

Competition organizers choose the teacher of the year from 16 regional winners who are nominated by students, colleagues, administrators, friends or family members. They base the selection on qualities of “leadership, instructional expertise, community involvement, understanding of educational issues, professional development and vision,” according to a press release. Teachers who are nominated are required to submit packets of written materials, including testimonials and letters of recommendation.

“This recognition is not just about one classroom or one teacher,” said Springfield schools Superintendent Todd Hamilton. “It’s the celebration of the spirit of education in Springfield and across Oregon. You represent what is possible when an educator brings heart, innovation and passion to their daily work.”

In addition to the prize money, Golden will also serve as a spokesperson and representative of all Oregon teachers for the 2025-26 school year and receive professional development and networking opportunities.

Lilly is a graduate of Indiana University and has worked as a journalist at the Indianapolis Star and in Burlington, Vermont, as well as working as a foreign language teacher in France. She covers education and children's issues for Lookout Eugene-Springfield.