Baker School District receives Carmen West Memorial Award

By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Monday, March 15th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

BAKER CITY – (Release from the Baker School District) On Friday, March 12, 2021, Baker School District received the Oregon Department of Education’s Carmen West Memorial Award for its dedication to the success of English Learners at the elementary level throughout the District.

This award comes following a concerted effort by Baker School District EL Team members Ma’Lena Wirth, Aysha Vidales, Tamarack Grammon, Alexis Quinonez, and Inna Perepechkin, who serve English Learners and their families. The team was directed by Assistant Superintendent Betty Palmer, who retired last June.

“I am really proud of the work the teachers of this district have put forth and all that we have accomplished as a team,” said Baker 5J ELD teacher Vidales. “Our students not only feel loved by their teachers, but are also getting exactly what they need to succeed.”

This award is named for Carmen West, who worked for the Oregon Department of Education and was a champion for English Learners across the State; and it is given each year to recognize schools continuing the important work of helping English Learners excel. This award is special for Baker 5J, since Carmen West assisted in the development of the Baker School District ELD program, keeping the focus on serving students and helping them meet their highest potential.

Baker School District was honored to accept the Carmen West Memorial Award at this year’s annual EL Alliance Conference.

About the Baker School District

Nationally recognized Baker School District 5J (BSD) is a major employer in Baker City, OR, serving 1,700 students locally with an additional 3,000 online students across the state of Oregon. Through enterprising, collaborative endeavors, BSD is creating an innovative educational foundation for future Oregonians. BSD believes strong school collaboration with local partners enables us to create vibrant communities that support lifelong learners.