Golden Continues to Represent District Across State and Beyond

The past few months have been a whirlwind for Community Transition Program Teacher, Sally Golden. Golden has both served as inspiration and been inspired as she continues to represent Springfield and Oregon as the state Teacher of the Year, and even included a NASA experience! 

Golden celebrated her birthday in April by delivering an inspiring speech at the Oregon Education Association delegates titled “Being Real Brings Out the Best.”

In late summer, she delivered several motivational speeches and presentations about the importance of collaboration to students at the University of Oregon, the same institution from where she earned her degree more than 26 years ago. 

“It was an honor to give back to my alma mater and play a small role in the development of our newest teachers!” said Golden.

A childhood dream came to fruition as she was celebrated and honored by thousands of people at the Portland Rose Festival Grand Starlight Parade – rolling through the streets in a 1965 convertible Ford Mustang. 

The highlight of Golden’s summer came when she and 47 other state teachers of the year went to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama in mid-July. She did everything from building a rocket to jumping on the moon to doing a parachute water landing to meeting a retired astronaut, Dorothy "Dottie" Metcalf-Lindenburger, who is a teacher turned astronaut! 

“It was one of the most exciting, challenging, life-changing events I have ever experienced,” said Golden.
Her greatest takeaway from Space Camp is that she wants to instill heartfelt wonder and a deep love of lifelong learning in her students.

In late July, Golden was invited to speak at the Springfield Greeters breakfast (hosted by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce), where she was able to share a bit about her life growing-up in Springfield, the teachers who inspired her along the way, and her father, who helped shape her little girl heart into the heart that now leads her students.

Golden was also interviewed for an Oregon Lottery podcast during which she enthusiastically shared about her Teacher of the Year experience thus far.

In early August, Golden was asked to be the kickoff speaker for the annual Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) Convention, where she offered words of encouragement and lit the fire of enthusiasm as everyone prepared to head back to their districts, buildings, and classrooms to continue the good work of serving Oregon students.

Please consider supporting Sally Golden by following her journey on her social media channel at facebook.com/sallygoldenOTOY2026.

Pictured above: From July 15 - 20, Golden did everything from building a rocket to jumping on the moon to doing a parachute water landing to meeting a retired astronaut, Dorothy "Dottie" Metcalf-Lindenburger, (who is a teacher turned astronaut!) while at NASA Space Camp at Huntsville, Alabama. Sally's greatest takeaway from Space Camp is that she wants to instill heartfelt wonder and a deep love of lifelong learning in her students.