Enterprise Elementary School teacher Tori Corak, right, receives a facsimile check for $1,000 from Michelle McKenzie of the Oregon Lottery for being the top teacher in the region Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024 at the school. Corak will compete for statewide teacher of the year honors; those will be announced in October.

ENTERPRISE — Teachers, students and former co-workers turned out Wednesday, Sept. 18, to see Enterprise Elementary teacher Tori Corak honored as one of the Oregon Lottery’s regional teachers of the year.

Each of the 19 regional teachers of the year wins a $1,000 cash prize and is in the running for Oregon’s 2024-25 Oregon Teacher of the Year — to be announced in October, according to a press release.

“I’m very surprised; I’m flattered because there are so many great teachers,” Corak said. “I’m not one to seek attention.”

Corak is currently a second-grade teacher, but she’s taught every grade at the school except first grade, as well as worked a stint as librarian and taught senior English in the high school.

“She is the physical manifestation of the love, care, passion, focus, and drive that we all work towards representing ourselves,” a colleague shared in her nomination. “She is an example for all and a light in the storm.”

Corak said she’ll use the prize money — at least in part — toward one of the annual projects she puts on for her students, a class auction.

”It’ll be nice to have some money to put toward that,” she said. “I do that every year.”

A Wallowa County native, her father was a teacher and administrator at the school when she was growing up. She and husband Gary Gassett have three daughters and a son, all of whom attended Enterprise schools during their youth. She’s been a teacher in Enterprise for 31 years.

Regional teachers of the year are nominated by students, colleagues, administrators, friends or family members. Regional winners were identified through a local nomination, application and selection process facilitated by the Education Service Districts around the state. Applicants submitted testimonials and letters of support and were assessed by a panel of regional representatives on the attributes of leadership, instructional expertise, commitment to equity, community involvement, understanding of educational issues, vision and professional development.

Rebecca Nordtvedt, Enterprise Elementary School principal and district superintendent, said Corak has had a great impact on many of her students.

“We’ve had several teachers who had Tori and then became teachers,” she said.

Over the past 30-plus years, she’s had a positive impact on many, Nordtvedt said during an all-school assembly to recognize Corak and others who had performed well.

“She’s also a leader among our staff every day,” she said.

Tom Crane, who was Nordtvedt’s predecessor and started his teaching career at Enterprise, had a unique experience with Corak. She was a student in his fourth-grade class and went on to become a teacher and took over his class when he left the school.

“Currently I teach in a class I was in,” Corak said.

Landon Braden, superintendent of the Education Service District, also had high praise for Corvack.

“She just exemplifies everything an educator should be,” he said. “She’s passionate, she loves kids, she always gives her time a lot more than is necessary to make sure her kids are successful.”

Another colleague noted how Corak is so invested in the lives and activities of the students, regardless of whether they’re in her class. 

“She comes to all the games and all the activities and cheers on the students,” the colleague said. “Her life is the kids in our community.”

“Students and families in Oregon are fortunate to have teachers like these whose inspiring contributions create lasting impacts that ripple out into their communities and beyond,” said Charlene Williams, director of the Oregon Department of Education.

Anyone who knows an outstanding teacher can nominate them as the 2025-26 Oregon Teacher of the Year by visiting oregonteacheroftheyear.org.

Corak said the whole school did a great job keeping the honor a secret. Even her own class didn’t let it slip. She said she thought they were just going to an ordinary assembly.

“The kids are what make it easy,” she said. “They make it worthwhile.”