Educator of the year
By Brielle Kennington
Argus Observer
Sunday, January 6, 2008 3:46 AM PST
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| Educator of the year Greg Alexander. |
Ontario - A focus on education is one key reason Greg Alexander will be honored with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year award at the annual chamber banquet Jan. 11, at Four Rivers Cultural Center.
Alexander, born and raised in Ontario, and his wife, Kim, have been members of the Ontario community for 40 years.
The couple have two children, Tanner, a seventh-grader, and Kelsey, a fourth-grader, and both attend the Ontario School District.
Alexander doesn’t just teach eighth-grade U.S. government and history at Ontario Middle School, but instead he goes the extra mile. Alexander participates in student government, site council, sixth-grade intramural sports and school field trips, which he plans himself.
Alexander was involved in the student government program for 13 years and is currently involved in the OMS site council, which helps make decisions for the school, and members plan improvements and also watch academic scores, including the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
After school, Alexander said he coaches several sixth-grade intramural sports including flag football, basketball, kickball and floor hockey, and if that isn’t enough, he is willing to do more.
“I wish I knew more about soccer. There is a lot of interest,” he said.
Alexander’s dedication stands out with many of his co-workers.
“He’s the greatest. He is one of the finest overall people and teachers I know,” Ontario Middle School counselor Adele Billingsley said.
Alexander arrives at OMS at 6 a.m and does not leave until 5:30 p.m., which is more time than his contract mandates for teachers. Alexander also spends time out of school correcting papers.
“I work five to six hours every weekend and five to six hours in the evenings through out the week correcting papers,” he said.
A field trip to Washington, D.C., and New York City is also a project Alexander has taken under his wing. This year the students will also be going to Jamestown and Williamsburg, Va.
Alexander said he wasn’t sure exactly why he was nominated for the award, but it could be his love of his work.
“Working with the kids, it’s just fun. I’m sad every year when summer vacation comes around,” Alexander said.
The students at OMS recognize Alexander’s voice and seem to like him as much as his co-workers.
“Most of them like me. There are different personalities, so some think you’re the best teacher and some think you’re the worst. All the kids say I’m really loud,” Alexander laughed.
Alexander said he likes living in Ontario because of the community and also the hunting and fishing opportunities.
“I like all the people that work for the school district and the school. It feels safe and the interaction with the adults is fantastic and the kids are fantastic,” Alexander said.
Greg Alexander was nominated by his brother Mark Alexander, Ontario’s acting police chief and president of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
“He is a great teacher, and he goes above and beyond with his work and with the kids and everything he does. He’s very dedicated to the teaching profession, and I hear people who have had him as a teacher, and he is one of those that you always liked and learned a lot from and who make a difference in your education. The field trips he plans take a lot of time, and he helps the students earn the money on their own,” Mark Alexander said.
When asked to give fellow educators some advice, Greg Alexander said:
“Have fun, keep loving your job, be positive and look for the best in kids, and don’t get hung up on the negative behaviors — the kids aren’t bad at all — and drink lots of water, not so much coffee,” Alexander laughed.
