Educator Awards Spotlight: Tammy Oommen

Tammy Oommen is the Northwest ESD 189 Regional Classified School Employee of the Year and is a Paraeducator in School Intervention at Laventure Middle School in the Mount Vernon School District.

We’re sharing the wisdom of our incredible regional and state Teachers and Classified School Employees of the Year, in their own words. Find more on our Spotlight page.

What advice would you give someone who is just beginning their career in education?

I would advise new employees to be flexible. Flexibility and open to different situations that come about in schools. Evaluate your own biases and be open to reflection and be flexible to change the ideas you hold that might not be helpful when working in a diverse environment. Education is wonderful and exciting. Working in schools is not for everyone, it is a calling.

What do you think is the most important part of your job?

The students are the most important part of my job. Making connections with students. I think in a humanist and holistic way in my approach of working with students in crisis. It is also my job to help them get to a place of reflection of their needs and get them back to class. It may even include a phone call to the parent celebrating the successes of the student for the day, week, or month.

What was something that surprised you about working in education?

What surprised me is that education changes so much to meet the needs of children and society. Educators try to catch the students from falling through the cracks. I am happy with the direction education has gone. A more humanist approach and SEL are strategies that are being used with much more emphasis on the whole child. I never thought I would stay in education for so long. I love my job and love making a difference. Education is changing for the better from when I was in school.

Describe your perfect day at work.

My perfect workday is when students and staff walk down the hall smiling and greeting each other. My perfect workday when a student in crisis has made it back to class. My perfect workday is when parents feel good about how I was able to help them.

What do you wish more people knew about your job?

My job is not a one shoe fits all approach. I have to be patient, flexible, and authentically me. Students can read right through someone going through the motions. I have to be able to make quick decisions when dealing with a student or students in crisis and remember that their issue is not mine. I have to be one step ahead. But no child leaves me without feeling better about themselves. My students are not bad, they need a support team. My rewards are often when students are older and they remember me.

Learn more about the Teacher and Classified School Employees of the Year on the Educator Awards website.