Margot Peek, a second-grade teacher at Willamette Primary School in West Linn, was named 2025-26 Regional Teacher of the Year for Clackamas County in a surprise all-school assembly Friday, Sept. 19.
West Linn-Wilsonville School District Superintendent Kathy Ludwig and other special guests walked in unannounced to an early-morning assembly to share the news of Peek’s honor, to the delight of the school’s students and staff. Peek is one of 16 teachers receiving regional awards across the state this week, as part of the Oregon Teacher of the Year program.
“Margot is an incredible educator who has done amazing things for students during her time at Willamette,” said Ludwig. “She embodies the best qualities of a great teacher, elevating student outcomes across all content areas while creating a learning environment that allows students to grow into better people. She is a teacher leader at her school and in our district, collaborating with staff to build teacher efficacy and improve our entire system. The impact she has had on our Willamette students is immeasurable and we’re so thankful for her efforts.”
Peek has spent her entire 17-year career teaching second grade in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District. She received multiple glowing nominations from parents, students and colleagues for the Teacher of the Year award, all citing the culture of belonging she creates in her classroom, and her heartfelt devotion to helping every student learn and grow. One parent, a former teacher himself, said, “She is the most genuine, enthusiastic and expert teacher I have ever seen. She makes every student feel as if they matter and are capable of success.” A colleague wrote in a letter of support, “No time is wasted in her classroom. Every moment is an opportunity to learn in a fun, encouraging and engaging way.”
“It’s rare to find an educator with such an exceptional combination of talent, compassion and dedication to her craft,” said Willamette Primary School Principal Nicole Minor. “Margot has an unwavering commitment to supporting each and every one of her learners, tailoring her instruction to meet their diverse needs while fostering independence and confidence. Her empathy, patience and innovative approach ensure that every student feels seen, valued and capable of success – academically, socially and emotionally.”
“Our Teacher of the Year selection panel was deeply impressed by Margot’s amazing ability to build community with her young students, and creatively help them extend their learning beyond the classroom walls,“ said Clackamas ESD Superintendent Larry Didway. “From creating a ‘wildlife preserve’ in the school cafeteria, to writing biographies of local retirement home residents, to caring for the bees that pollinate their school garden, Margot’s second-graders are discovering the joys of skill-building and collaboration in powerful ways that will shape their approach to a lifetime of learning.”
Peek was selected from more than 300 regional nominees and an exceptionally strong group of 10 finalists. Other top contenders for this year’s Clackamas County award included:
• Rachel Brekke-Schmidt, elementary learning specialist, Structured Learning Center for Academics, North Clackamas School District
• Emmely Briley, science and engineering teacher, robotics coach and STEAM camps coordinator, Molalla High School
• Adrianne Cohen, mathematics teacher and 9th grade instructional coach, Milwaukie High School
• Jennifer Crutcher, advanced mathematics teacher and department chair, Oregon City High School
• Daniel Hartley, band director and secondary music coordinator, Lakeridge High School, Lake Oswego
• Kelsey Scully, science teacher, Oregon City High School
• Johanna Seligman, humanities teacher, Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences, Oregon City
• Molly Urban, high school special education teacher, Heron Creek Therapeutic Program, Clackamas ESD
• Elizabeth Warren, mathematics teacher and instructional coach, Estacada Middle School
Note: listing includes school of employment during 2024-25 school year
The Teacher of the Year awards program is sponsored by the Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery. Regional winners receive a $1,000 cash prize.
