Today we’d like to introduce you to Sally Golden.
Hi Sally, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a homegrown, hometown girl raised in Springfield, Oregon by a humble milkman father and an in-home daycare mother, both of whom prioritized my education and development and gave me a childhood of dreams. For 22 years I have taught special education in the same district that helped raise me! I graduated from Springfield High School in 1995 and received my BA in Educational Studies in 1999 and my MA and Teaching License in Special Education in 2000 from the University of Oregon. I taught at Springfield High School for 5 years, stayed home to raise my babies for 5 years, went back to Springfield High for one year, and now have entered my 16th year at the Community Transition Program, a hands-on, community-based program for young adult students ages 18-21 with mild to moderate disabilities learning how to become well-rounded responsible citizens. My incredible team of educational assistants nominated me for Oregon Teacher of the Year and are an integral part of why ultimately I was named the 2026 Oregon Teacher of the Year. This award absolutely is a team award, a team that includes not only educational assistants but also students, parents, administrators, specialists, community partners, and more. This past year, during which I have served as an ambassador for Oregon education, has been quite a ride, one giant blessing made up of hundreds of small blessings. Here is a more formal professional bio:
“Sally Golden is a special education teacher who has coordinated the Community Transition Program (CTP) in Springfield, Oregon for the past 16 years. She facilitates, writes and implements Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for young adult students with disabilities ages 18-21 in the Springfield School District, with a focus on serving students in the four main areas of transition: employment skills, independent living, community participation, and post-secondary education. Social skills, self-regulation, physical and mental wellness, and responsible adult citizenship all are integrated throughout the CTP curriculum.
Golden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies with a minor in Special Education and a Master of Arts in Special Education, all from the University of Oregon. Prior to CTP, she taught special education at Springfield High School for six years and was a treatment team member at Jasper Mountain Center, a residential home and day treatment program for children with significant trauma histories, for two years.
Golden recently was named the 2026 Oregon Teacher of the Year and in 2019 received the Lisl Waechter Award from the Arc of Lane County, an honor bestowed upon an “exceptional volunteer or professional who has devoted their life to enhancing the lives of individuals who experience intellectual/developmental disabilities.” This commitment can be witnessed in the way Golden prioritizes the preferences, interests, needs and strengths of all of her students as well as the expertise of her staff team members and weaves these into the vibrant, dynamic fabric of the hands-on, community-based program that is CTP.”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think there is anything I would change, despite there being challenges and despite being pushed many times beyond my comfort zone. This was one of the main reasons I accepted the nomination and embraced the application process: I wanted to step outside of and ultimately expand my zone of comfort and embrace new challenges along the way. I also wished to highlight my students, my team, and our amazing program. Although things generally have gone quite smoothly, I have had to manage all of the events, speaking engagements, professional development and interviews while still working full time as the Community Transition Program teacher. I am a firm believer in tipping your scales personally in order to be better professionally; in other words, live a full, vibrant, meaningful personal life that gives you the energy and perspective to be a GREAT teacher and co-worker. I believe strongly in the Four R’s: Being REAL and RELATABLE leads to RELATIONSHIPS and RESULTS! Over this past year, I definitely have been tested in the area of time management and have had to get creative and be purposeful in maintaining a healthy personal life. I often describe this year as a time of professional development on steroids, because there is just SO MUCH!!! Ultimately, I am deeply grateful for the growth I have experienced this year and have significantly improved my willingness to try new things, even if I risk not doing those things well (as a lifelong perfectionist, this is a big deal!).
Since being named 2026 Oregon Teacher of the Year, I have had the opportunity to participate in a plethora of events and engagements. These include attending Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama (one of the best experiences of my life!); spending three days at Google Headquarters in Santa Clara, CA with all of the other state teachers of the year from around the country (how many people can say they know and love someone from EVERY state & territory in the US?!?); throwing out the first pitch at a UO Duck baseball game (right down the middle!!); being the honorary ball starter at a Portland Trail Blazers game (I grew up loving Clyde Drexler & the Dream Team but never had the honor of attending a game until now…what a treat!!!); being interviewed for news articles (Register Guard), a radio show (OPB “Think Out Loud”), and a podcast (Oregon Lottery…the sponsor of the Oregon Teacher of the Year program); riding VIP in a ’65 convertible Ford Mustang (my childhood dream car!!) in the Portland Rose Festival Grand Starlight Parade; and a wide variety of speaking engagements and presentations in addition to myriad virtual professional development seminars provided by the National Teacher of the Year program. At the end of this month, I am heading to Washington, D.C. to once again meet up with my cohort of State TOY peers!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a special education teacher, I have worked for 22 years with adolescents and young adults with mild to moderate developmental disabilities. Over the years, I have found the most important thing I teach my students is empathy. From the time I was a little girl playing teacher with the daycare kids in my home, I found that I cared deeply about people, especially those who were not treated well by others. I made it a point to be kind to everyone and to make connections with peers who did not have many friends. I had a love of learning and was a very happy child who experienced deep friendships at a young age. I desired to impart that life awe and inspire meaningful relationship-building in others. To this day, I still feel giddy with excitement every time I see a student radiating joy over a life experience or glowing with pride over meeting a goal. If I can spend my professional life helping mold good humans who enjoy living, care about their community, and see purpose outside of just themselves, I will transition to the afterlife with peace and a full heart. It is immensely important to me that students know and feel that they can come talk to me about anything, and I will make the time to truly hear them. If I cannot solve the problem, I will teach them how to access the resources that can. I think something that sets me apart is that I am able to juggle many things while still maintaining strong personal and professional relationships and also prioritizing my own health and well-being.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is living a life so full of joy and wonder that it spills into the hearts and lives of those around you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://oregonteacheroftheyear.org/winners/sally-golden/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallygoldenotoy2026
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/sallygoldenOTOY2026
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sallyleegolden
