A year ago, Elizabeth Loftus was contemplating a career change. After going through one of the toughest years in teaching, Loftus was ready to move on from education and concentrate on a career as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She had a change of heart.
The 14-year teaching veteran is a leader in special education in our district. Now, her efforts are being recognized across our state. Recently, Loftus was named the Northwest Education Service District (NWESD) 189 Regional Teacher of the Year after Olympic View Elementary Principal, Laura Aesoph, nominated her last spring.
“She has been one of the best teachers in our school district and it was time she deserved some recognition,” said Aesoph. “When I nominated her, I figured that would be the end of it. I didn’t plan on her having to do more work.”
After being nominated, Loftus, who has been at Olympic View Elementary for seven years, spent an entire weekend writing essays, collecting letters of recommendation and updating her resume for her application.
Then they waited. Both Aesoph and Loftus forgot about the award until the third week in June when Aesoph received a congratulations letter and an award ceremony invitation.
“I couldn’t believe it when Laura [Aesoph] called to tell me that I had actually won,” Loftus said. “I immediately called my father who has been my champion.”
“Being able to inform her was a very special moment for me,” Aesoph said. “Our school has the highest student population in special education in the district and it’s important to have amazing teachers like Liz [Loftus] in our classrooms not only educating, but advocating on their behalf.”
Loftus is one of eight finalists for the 2017 Washington Teacher of the Year award. On Thursday, Sept. 15, she traveled to Olympia for a long weekend. The events included an interview by a panel of educators, parents, and lawmakers prior to a five to seven minute presentation on a topic of the candidates choosing. Loftus was expected to present on the lack of mental health funding with specifics about ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and their long-term effects and consequences when not properly treated.
The finalists continue the weekend with a leadership retreat before culminating the weekend at the Washington Teacher of the Year ceremony on Monday, Sept. 19 at 1:30 p.m. at the Sky Church Experience Musical Program (EMP) Museum in Seattle.
As the Regional Teacher of the Year, Loftus will spend the next year presenting to regional community groups, businesses, government officials and future teachers about her experiences.
If selected for State Teacher of the Year, Loftus would qualify for National Teacher of the Year, which is hosted in Washington, D.C. next January.
A 2003 graduate of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, Loftus received her bachelor’s degree in education with a concentration in special education. The Owego, N.Y., native has remained a student throughout her career earning her master’s degree in education at Elmira College in New York in 2007 and just recently she completed graduate level coursework from the University of Washington in Applied Behavior Analyst.
The Oak Harbor community will be rooting for Loftus next weekend. Regardless of the outcome, the real winners are the students.
Pictured, is Elizabeth Loftus, a native of Owego, N.Y.
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