Teacher named Educator of the Year

A teacher at Lake Roosevelt Jr/Sr High School thought he was just attending a pep assembly Friday when his name was called to receive a statewide award as educator of the year.

Derek Atkins, who graduated from Lake Roosevelt, teaches science there now and revived a club that was important to his own development and direction.

The pep assembly turned out to be a well-kept secret to surprise him.

Shawn Brehm, a Wellpinit teacher who serves as the chair of the Washington Education Association's Caucus of Native American, Alaskan Native and First Nations Educators, presented the award, which is modeled after the large belts that professional wrestlers win. The WEA is the state's largest teachers' union.

Brehm said Atkins is one of two teachers to receive the award in this, its inaugural year. He said the executive council voted unanimously to give the award to Atkins.

As a part of the nomination process, letters of recommendation were sought from colleagues and their students. Their words were powerful.

One said he "connects to our culture, our history, our community in a way that makes learning feel meaningful. His impact on students like me is amazing, and his passion for teaching and uplifting others is something that will stay with us for a lifetime."

Another said his "hard work and dedication for the community is unmatched. He pushes us to think critically, to embrace who we are and to believe in the power of our voice."

Atkins, another said, is "willing to go the extra mile, step or distance on any occasion for someone" ... and is "selfless, always putting those in need in front of himself, showing up early, staying late, and spending every minute in between helping a student, coworker or community member."

Atkins started up a club in the school to help teach science to Native American students. AISES was an important factor in his own life, he told the school board when seeking permission for the club last year. The American Indian Science and Engineering Society is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the representation of Indigenous people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. 

About 50 are in the club, and Atkins will take 20 of them to tour Northwest Indian College near Bellingham, Washington, and to the University of Washington, in Seattle, in the near future.

Also attending the ceremony were several members of the Colville Business Council.

Chairman Jerred-Michael Erickson also attended Lake Roosevelt with Atkins. He said Atkins' work to help Native students understand their culture is something that was missing for them then.

"We didn't get taught our culture. We didn't get taught even about our tribe. When I was in school, we got taught the bare minimum ... about some East Coast tribes. About all we had was a short section on our history. So to hear that you guys are teaching about our culture, our history here, is super important. ... It really warms our heart to hear that."

Councilmember Meghan Francis told the students attending that "the way that Derek carries himself, and his goals and intentions for teaching culture and history, I hope that it plants a seed in any of you guys, because it's so rare. ... When I was in school, I never saw a teacher that looked like me."

Superintendent Rod Broadnax said Atkins is "truly an educational superstar, and this shows it right here." Broadnax said he wants Atkins "to be one of the first Native administrators, principals, in this in this district."

Atkins, who originally had not planned to become a teacher, told the students, "Doing what I do is for each and every one of you, you know, and you guys keep me coming back every day and reflecting back on my teachers and how they impacted me."