Four Local Educators Have Mortgage or Rent Paid for One Year Through OnPoint’s Prize for Excellence in Education

Schools of winners, runners-up receive donations

PORTLAND, Ore., — May 23, 2025 — OnPoint Community Credit Union has announced the four winners of the 2025 OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education Educator of the Year awards:

• K-5 Educator of the Year: Ricardo Barber, 3^rd grade teacher at Faubion Elementary School in Portland
• 6-8 Educator of the Year: Rhiannon Young, 6^th-8^th grade teacher at Corbett Middle School in Corbett
• 9-12 Educator of the Year: Sophia Aguirre, 9^th-12^th grade English language development teacher at Aloha High School in Beaverton
• Gold Star Educator of the Year: Hang Jones, Social Worker at Marysville Elementary School in Portland

The four Educators of the Year will have their mortgage or rent paid for one year and receive $2,500 for each of their schools. In addition, the four runners-up will receive $5,000 for themselves and $1,500 for each of their schools.

“Educators are the heart of our schools and the foundation of our communities,” said Rob Stuart, president and chief executive officer, OnPoint Community Credit Union. “This year’s winners and runners-up build trust, spark curiosity and give students a sense of belonging. They lead with heart, inspire confidence and support their community beyond the classroom. We are proud to honor their impact.”

Since 2010, the OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education has awarded more than $840,000 in prizes to 326 local educators and schools. The 2025 campaign will award an additional $193,000 to deserving public and private K-12 educators and schools.

2025 Educators of the Year

The four winners of the 2025 OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education Educator of the Year awards are:

K-5 Educator of the Year – Ricardo Barber

3^rd grade, Faubion Elementary School, Portland

Ricardo Barber has created a classroom culture built on confidence and care, where third graders see themselves as strong, capable and ready to grow. His class consistently exceeds district averages in reading and math. He leads with rigor, real-time feedback and a belief that every child can achieve.

Ricardo centers community and connection in everything he does. He starts each day with a class circle, uses culturally responsive teaching to reflect students’ identities and keeps families engaged with constant communication and praise. When a child makes progress, he calls home to celebrate. When others need support, he adapts instruction to meet them where they are. He and his family also host student dinners to build trust beyond the classroom.

Beyond the school day, Ricardo runs the One H.O.P.E Summer School, a free enrichment program that blends academics, meals and local field trips. As a teacher and a pastor, he brings his whole heart to his work, lifting up every child with purpose, pride, and love.

6-8 Educator of the Year – Rhiannon Young

6^th-8^th grade, Corbett Middle School, Corbett

For more than two decades, Rhiannon Young has shaped Corbett’s middle-level program into a model of hands-on, inclusive, real-world learning. Her students have traced volcanic flows at Mt. St. Helens, walked the streets of Europe during study-abroad trips, and examined history through the lens of both migrant and Indigenous stories.

She runs multi-cultural book clubs to explore identity and representation in student-chosen novels. Her social studies units highlight multiple perspectives from marginalized groups throughout history, such as the post-Revolutionary War and Reconstruction in America.

Rhiannon also helps lead continuous improvement across Corbett and beyond. She serves on the site council and district bargaining team, leads K-12 curriculum alignment, mentors new teachers, and oversees academic intervention services. She also partners with the Multnomah Education Service District to align social studies standards, secure grants for arts and science materials and advocate for equity in every corner of the student experience.

9-12 Educator of the Year – Sophia Aguirre

9^th-12^th grade English Language Development, Aloha High School, Beaverton

In Room E20 at Aloha High School, visitors find more than a classroom — they see a vibrant community stitched together by language, culture, and belonging. Student art and poetry speak in many languages, and every visitor is greeted with warmth and intention. This is the world Sophia Aguirre has created for her English Language Development students: a sanctuary where new arrivals to the U.S. not only learn English but rediscover their confidence, creativity, and voice.

Sophia leads with innovation and heart in and beyond the classroom. She launched school-wide cultural projects like the annual Cultural Fashion Show, raised funds for classroom resources and field trips, and led professional development that puts staff in the shoes of English learners. Sophia is bilingual and currently completing her M.S. in Education in Reading and Literacy, shaping the future not just for her students but also for how schools serve multilingual learners.

Gold Star Educator of the Year – Hang Jones

Social Worker, Marysville Elementary School, Portland

As a bilingual Vietnamese school social worker and immigrant who once dropped out of high school, Hang has unique insight into the challenges Marysville students face. She understands language barriers, the isolation of being new and the fear of not belonging, because she’s been there.

Hang’s work has redefined what support looks like in a school setting. She has demonstrated exceptional leadership in improving student attendance at Marysville, achieving a 5% increase, the highest gain in the district over the past five years. Her creative programs – like classroom “attendance” coloring challenges, donut parties, and student job assignments – give students a reason to show up and a sense of pride when they do.

Hang’s impact stretches far beyond school walls. She’s personally delivered food boxes, arranged medical appointments and interpreters for families, and fought for equitable bus routes for those without transportation. She leads Marysville’s Lunar New Year celebrations and Vietnamese affinity groups, ensuring every student sees their culture reflected with pride. Hang is not just a resource for the Marysville community; she’s a lifeline.

2025 Educator of the Year Runners-up

OnPoint will also award a $5,000 cash prize to each of the following 2025 runners-up and make a $1,500 donation to their schools for resources and supplies.

K-5 Educator of the Year Runner-up – Lisa Lewis

K-1^st Grade, West Powellhurst Elementary, Portland

6-8 Educator of the Year Runner-up – Britta Hobbs

6-8^th Grade Music/Choir, Covington Middle School, Vancouver, (Washington)

9-12 Educator of the Year Runner-up – Katie Ryan

9-12^th Grade Science, Academy of Arts & Academics, Springfield

Gold Star Educator of the Year Runner-up – RJ Tagorda

Principal, Holy Cross Catholic School, Portland

Five Schools Receive Community Builder Awards

The 2025 OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education also awarded one Oregon school $5,000 and four Oregon schools $2,000 in Community Builder grants for special projects that enrich their communities. Click here to read about this year’s winners, which OnPoint announced on May 7, 2025.

Honoring Founders’ Legacy of Excellence in Education

Founded by 16 schoolteachers in 1932, OnPoint continues to honor its legacy today by improving access to quality education for everyone. Click here to learn more.

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About OnPoint Community Credit Union OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving over 613,000 members and with assets of $9.7 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union’s membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 28 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. OnPoint Community Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). More information is available at onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932.