Wadena-Deer Creek special education teacher Cami Oakes will be honored at NJPA’s Educators of Excellence banquet, May 1. Photo by Dana Pavek, WDC Schools.
Wadena-Deer Creek special education teacher Cami Oakes will be honored at the National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA) Educators of Excellence Awards Banquet on May 1 at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa.
Mrs. Oakes will be recognized, along with other educators from central Minnesota, for their commitment to excellence and demonstration of best practices and leadership in education, which has led to increased student learning.
Since 2011, Mrs. Oakes has been teaching special education at Wadena-Deer Creek High School. She is described as organized, energetic, friendly, positive and nurturing. She is also known as an educator who pushes her special education students to always do better and achieve success, said Tyler Church, WDC Middle/High School principal, who nominated Mrs. Oakes for the award.
“As a special education teacher, she sets high expectations for her students. She pushes her students to realize their potential, but also provides a caring and positive support system that goes above and beyond her job description,” said Church, adding, “Mrs. Oakes also epitomizes what a colleague should be. She’s always willing to help those around her and she has been a true asset to WDC Schools.”
Mrs. Oakes said she is very humbled and grateful to be a recipient of the NJPA Educators of Excellence Award. She will accept her award at the recognition banquet on May 1.
“I am very thankful, humbled and honored to receive such recognition from NJPA. A heartfelt thank you goes to Mr. Church for nominating me. It's a privilege to work alongside so many tremendous educators here at WDC. I feel blessed to belong to such a caring, dedicated and outstanding staff who go above and beyond each day to bring the best out in our students,” Mrs. Oakes said.
She and her husband, Jason, have three children – William, Henry and Hannah. In her spare time, she is busy with her children’s school activities, which includes going to their basketball, hockey and baseball games. Once the weather warms up, she also enjoys spending as much family time on the lake as possible -- fishing, knee-boarding and tubing every chance she gets.