The Courier-Herald
No matter how many awards and accolades White River High psychology teacher Dianne Campbell and her programs receive, she always accepts them with her electric smile, a bit of wit and wisdom, grace and a touch of surprise that she's a recipient.
Campbell was named the Puget Sound Educational Service District 121's Regional Teacher of the Year, which made her one of seven finalists in the state vying for Washington's top teacher honor. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson announced Granite Falls School District elementary music specialist Andrea Peterson as the 2007 recipient during a press conference at Seattle's Museum of Flight.
Fellow White River High teacher Al Novak nominated Campbell for the honor. As a district representative, he said each year he'd listen to the laundry list of great things the winners do in the field and think, “Diane does that and more.”
“She does so much with her kids, and it's not just a one-year thing. She's been doing it forever,” Novak said.
Novak said he expected Campbell to win the state award.
“I was honestly surprised she didn't,” he said. “She's such a humble person. She just takes it all in stride. She's the kind of person that's just as happy for them (the winner).
“Anyone that knows her knows she's a caring, giving person. That's the way she teaches and that's the way she is with the staff.”
“I'm so honored,” Campbell said as she thanked fellow teachers, the White River School Board, district administration, students and parents as the school district honored her at its school board meeting Oct. 11. She thanked everyone for being part of her travels.
“Teaching is such an awesome journey,” Campbell said. “One literally can touch greatness. Teaching is a journey…one that cannot be located on MapQuest, but one that must be studied each day to make sure you are going in the right direction.
“It is the students that inspire me to keep traveling,” said Campbell, who has spent her more than 31 years in the classroom in ESD 121.
“Education isn't just in the classroom, it goes everywhere I go,” Campbell said. “The students come first in everything I do.”
That was evident even at the board meeting as she left shortly after being honored to accompany student Rusty Chesbro to the Homecoming coronation ceremony and the note a student wrote that the ESD shared, “When you sign up for Ms. Campbell's class you know you are not just going to leave with more knowledge, but with a bigger heart and a better understanding of the world.”
Campbell is not White River's first Regional Teacher of the Year winner. Mountain Meadow Elementary teacher Tracy Livingston previously earned the honor.
Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierherald.com.
