Roseburg High School Agriculture Teacher Named Douglas Regional Teacher of the Year

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Cailey Powell, an agriculture science and forestry teacher at Roseburg High School, has been named the 2026-27 Douglas Regional Teacher of the Year. The honor makes her one of 17 regional winners being recognized across Oregon and a semifinalist for Oregon Teacher of the Year.

Powell is scheduled to receive the surprise announcement Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 2 p.m., before a staff meeting at Roseburg High School.

Sheri Carson, the 2024-25 Douglas Regional Teacher of the Year, nominated Powell and pointed to the growth of Roseburg High School’s agriculture and FFA program.

“Cailey is an outstanding agriculture instructor,” Carson said. “She has worked very hard to build our Agriculture/FFA program from a struggling program to a top contending program in our area. Agriculture teachers by nature put in a lot of hours, but she also volunteers to help out with schoolwide professional development for staff.”

In her application, Powell described how she brings students into the community through projects that give them a chance to contribute and see the results of their work.

“I am very intentional about creating opportunities that connect my students directly with our local community in meaningful, hands-on ways,” Powell wrote. “These experiences go beyond field trips or guest speakers; they are projects where students actively contribute, build relationships, and see the impact of their work. Through these connections, the classroom walls disappear, and learning becomes real.”

Regional Teachers of the Year can be nominated by students, colleagues, administrators, friends, or family members. Oregon’s education service districts oversee the regional application and selection process. Applicants submit testimonials and letters of support, and selection panels consider their leadership, teaching expertise, commitment to equity, community involvement, understanding of education issues, vision, and professional development.

“We are so proud of this year’s Regional Teachers of the Year who consistently demonstrate hard work, build strong relationships, empower their students, and create classroom environments that lead to student success,” Oregon Department of Education Director Dr. Charlene Williams said. “As mentors, advocates, and community leaders, they show us all that the best is on display in schools large and small, rural and urban, from the first years of schooling to the final preparations for a student’s next steps beyond high school. We thank them for their inspiration and can’t wait to see what they do next.”

Each regional winner receives $1,000 through the Oregon Department of Education’s partnership with the Oregon Lottery. The statewide Teacher of the Year, who will be announced later this fall, will receive $10,000, with an additional $5,000 going to their school. That teacher also serves as a spokesperson and representative for Oregon educators.

“These are exceptional educators who inspire students daily across Oregon,” Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells said. “We are honored to celebrate their dedication and the lasting impact they have on our students and families.”

The release says more than $10 billion in Lottery revenue has been transferred to Oregon school districts since 1995. It also reports more than $7 million in Lottery funding went to Douglas County in the past year. Its separate figure of more than $2.5 million uses the name “Douglas County School District,” but does not identify which district that refers to.

The full list of regional winners is expected to be posted Friday, Sept. 25, after all 17 have been announced, at https://oregonteacheroftheyear.org/. The website also has information about nominating a teacher for the 2027-28 award.