A16 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017
FROM PAGE A1
EDUCATION:
Mountain Community Col-
lege, Eastern Oregon Uni-
versity, and George Fox
University. He hopes to
continue to play soccer,
and study athletic training
to merge his two passions.
“I’ve always liked be-
ing around sports, so I
figure if I can get a career
being around sports, I’ll be
happy — and also helping
people one-one-one,” he
said.
He also hopes to contin-
ue volunteering.
“For as long as I can re-
member I’ve always liked
helping people,” he said.
“Whatever community I
end up in — hopefully I
get to stay in Hermiston —
I’d continue to volunteer in
any way I can.”
continued from Page A1
“We continue to be a re-
source after kids graduate
high school or college,”
Marvin said of the Ca-
reer and Counseling Cen-
ter where she works. “If I
didn’t get to work with kids,
I probably still wouldn’t be
doing this,” she said.
BEYOND TESTING
Garth Lind, the district’s
top teacher for 2016, is a
little embarrassed about re-
ceiving the award.
“It’s awkward getting
an award for yourself when
it’s part of what your team
does,” the fifth grade teach-
er said.
Sitting in a classroom at
Hermiston’s Desert View
Elementary with his three
colleagues, Lind says ev-
erything he’s achieved as a
teacher has been matched
by his colleagues — Dia
Bernabe, Janey McCor-
mack and Rachel Lind (his
wife).
“It’s easier to be out
of the spotlight, just do-
ing your thing,” Lind said.
“Any successes I’ve had
has come from my team.”
At the ceremony Lind
was praised for his ability
to connect with students
and colleagues, further
his own teaching skills,
and turn out consistently
above-average test scores.
According to district statis-
tics, 87 percent of students
in Lind’s class over the past
three years have scored at
benchmark or above on the
Science OAKS assessment
— 21 percent above the
state average. His students
have also shown an average
growth of 55 points on the
Smarter Balanced Assess-
ment in Language Arts,
compared to a statewide
expectation of 32 points.
Lind’s classes have grown
an average of 75 points in
math scores, against an ex-
pected growth of 40 points.
“Garth is such a moti-
vator,” Bernabe said. “And
he has such a rapport with
students.”
Lind has taught for 20
years — 17 with the Herm-
iston School District, and a
few in Umatilla and Toppe-
nish, Washington. This is
his fourth year back in ele-
mentary school after a stint
at Hermiston High.
Lind said his students
have benefited from the
close relationship the four
teachers have.
“It’s like one giant class-
room with four doors,”
Lind said. “It’s a seamless
educational experience for
the kids.”
WON’T SLOW DOWN
STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS
Desert View Elementary fifth grade teacher Garth Lind was named the Hermiston School District’s educator of the year at the
Hermiston Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Citizens Awards Banquet on Wednesday in Hermiston.
That philosophy has
extended to all aspects
of teaching, Lind said.
Though he has been lauded
for high test scores, Lind
said the entire fifth grade
team has the same philoso-
phy when it comes to state
assessments.
“We don’t focus on it,”
he said. Instead of teaching
specifically for test prepa-
ration, he said the group
teaches to the academics
instead.
“We teach more founda-
tional skills,” he said. “Our
goal is to put our kids aca-
demically ahead. If Smart-
er Balanced ends up being
something our kids do well
on, that’s good.”
He said he and his team
don’t get caught up in the
idea of “teaching to the
test.”
“Smart is smart,” Lind
said. “Do we teach the stan-
dards? Yes. But if you can
do math, and think at a high
level, you’re going to do
fine. What lets me sleep is
knowing that my kids are
prepared to go beyond high
school.”
Lind said his favorite
STAFF PHOTO BY JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN
Liz Marvin, the Project College Bound coordinator at Hermiston High School, meets with a
group of students to discuss a college visit this weekend.
subject to teach is writing.
“There’s no boundaries
to it,” he said. “It can be
creative, informative —
there’s an infinite amount
of ways to go about it.”
DRIVEN TO SERVE
the two things he’s always
loved: sports and helping
people.
The senior is in the
school’s National Honor
Society, a volunteer orga-
nization, as well as a four-
year soccer and track and
field athlete. Outside of
school, he volunteers often,
especially at dinners and
auctions held at the Herm-
iston Conference Center.
Arenas plans to attend
college after high school,
and is looking at Blue
Vanessa Ambriz-Men-
doza is busy with school,
work and many clubs —
but the Hermiston High
School senior has no in-
tention of slowing down
when she goes to college.
She balances several
responsibilities outside
of school: working as a
sales associate at Payless,
as well as participating in
several clubs: Key Club,
Good Shepherd Commu-
nity Health Foundation,
the Speech and Debate
Club and the College
Savings Group. She tries
to help out in the commu-
nity whenever she can at
the Agape House and at
local churches.
“I really do believe in
volunteering,” she said.
Ambriz-Mendoza
is
thinking about studying
International Relations,
and hopes to attend Whit-
man College in Walla
Walla.
“It’s an amazing pro-
gram,” she said of Whit-
man. “It’s a liberal arts
school with a small group
of students.”
Of her award, Am-
briz-Mendoza said she
was shocked, but thrilled
by the honor.
“I try to be involved in
the community as much
as I can,” she said.
Elias Ismael Arenas is
hoping he’ll get to follow
NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 20!
ALL NEW 2017 CAMRY MODELS IN STOCK
4 , 000 OFF
$
MSRP
NEW 2017 COROLLA LE
188
$
$
Dog Days Grooming Salon
Mention this ad
and receive
10
%
OFF
a groom thru the
end of February
MO *
STK # 17TH314*
on approved
credit
0 DOWN
Wendy Grammer
Owner/Groomer
541.969.1419
46 SE 5th Street
Pendleton • OR 97801
muttcuttsgrooming@yahoo.com
Like us on facebook
NEW 2017 TUNDRA DOUBLE CAB SR5 5.7L V8
399
STK # 17TH320*
$
MO *
on approved
credit
Pupcakes is proud to introduce…
Critter Cartons!
Sign your pet up for our monthly deliv-
ery of high quality toys, treats, and tail
waggin’ fun!
148 S Main Street
Pendleton, OR
541-429-8787
and
107 Fir Street
La Grande, OR
541-910-2727
pupcakes@usa.com
www.leterbark.com
We’ll make showing your pet some love
easy by giving you 10% off your entire
Critter Cartons purchase through 2/28.
Use Promo Code: LUVMYPET
Order online at www.leterbark.com
Come in and check out our newest
inventory of toys and treats. Through
all of February buy any toy and get one
of equal or lesser value for 20% off.
Just mention you saw this ad to get the
discount!
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook!
NEW 2017 RAV4 LE
245
$
MO *
STK # 17TH323*
on approved
credit
STK# 17TH314 2017 TOYOTA COROLLA LE. 3YR/12,000 MILES/YEAR LEASE. PLUS TAX TITLE DOC FEE. 3YR LEASE, $0 DOWN = $188MO. ON APPROVED CREDIT.
STK# 17TH323 2017 TOYOTA RAV4 LE. 3YR/12,000 MILES/YEAR LEASE. PLUS TAX TITLE DOC FEE. 3YR LEASE, $999 DOWN = $245MO. ON APPROVED CREDIT.
STK# 17TH320 2017 TOYOTA TUNDRA DOUBLE CAB SR5 5.7L V8. 3YR/12,000 MILE A YEAR LEASE. PLUS TAX TITLE DOC FEE. 3YR LEASE, $1,999 DOWN= $399MO. ON APPROVED CREDIT.
FOR ALL OFFERS: NO SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIRED. A DOCUMENTARY SERVICE FEE OF $75 MAY BE ADDED TO VEHICLE PRICE OR CAPITALIZED COST. DOES NOT INCLUDE TAXES, LICENSE, TITLE, PROCESSING FEES, INSURANCE AND DEALER CHARGES. SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. OFFERS VALID THROUGH 02-20-17.