Sydney Thompson Named Oregon Regional Teacher of the Year
The Dayville educator becomes the state's first two-time recipient of this professional honor.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Lottery have recognized 17 educators as Regional Teachers of the Year. Among the recipients is Sydney Thompson, who teaches at Dayville School and previously earned this distinction during the 2022-23 school year.
Why it matters
This annual program highlights teacher excellence across Oregon while bringing attention to the broader role of state lottery funding in supporting local public school districts and educational resources.
Each of the 17 regional winners receives a $1,000 cash award. This comes as part of a larger state initiative that has transferred over $10 billion to public schools since 1995.
The players
Sydney Thompson
A Dayville School educator and the first person to receive the Oregon Regional Teacher of the Year award twice.
Oregon Department of Education
The state agency responsible for overseeing public education standards and recognizing teacher excellence.
Oregon Lottery
The state entity that manages gaming revenue and provides significant funding for Oregon public school districts.
The details
The selection process is facilitated by education service districts, which manage the nomination and application cycle. A panel of regional representatives reviews testimonials and letters of support to determine which educators best exemplify teaching excellence in their respective areas.
Timeline
1995: Oregon Lottery began allocating revenue to public education.
2022-23: Sydney Thompson first received the regional teacher award.
September 23, 2026: Thompson received the regional award at Dayville School.
September 25, 2026: Full list of statewide winners published online.
Fall 2026: Announcement of the 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year.
The Home Front
The recognition of local educators ties into broader state efforts to sustain public school quality through dedicated revenue streams. This program reinforces the direct link between state-level funding initiatives and the daily classroom environment in communities like Grant County.
Families in Grant County and across the state should check their local district communications to see how lottery-funded programs are currently impacting their children's school resources. You can also visit the official website to review the full list of regional winners and see if an educator in your home district was honored.
The takeaway
The selection of repeat winners like Sydney Thompson highlights the long-term impact dedicated educators have on their local communities. Parents can track regional school funding updates by reviewing annual reports provided by their local education service district.
What happens next
The full list of 17 statewide regional winners will be published on September 25, 2026, followed by the announcement of the 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year later this fall.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's professional development initiatives on the Secondary Education page.
More information
View the full list of recognized educators at the Oregon Teacher of the Year nominations portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Blue Mountain Eagle.
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