Featured Staff: Sarah Colem OASC Activities Adviser of the Year – 2019
Hillsboro, OR – Sarah Cole, Student Council Adviser, Leadership Teacher, and Activities Adviser at Hillsboro High School has been named the Oregon Activities Adviser of the Year for 2019 at the OASC Spring Conference.
What makes this award even more special is that it started with students nominating Sarah and working with their administration to help complete the application. John Matsuo, Assistant Principal at Hillsboro, stated, “Student leadership, under the stewardship of Sarah Cole, has endless entry points and a place for everyone. Every traditional group uses Sarah Cole’s office as a hub and place without barriers. They eat together, laugh together, cry together and work to change the school and the world. They couldn’t be any more diverse and have a vast array of interests and activities, but they come together for StuCo and leadership. Sarah is one of the finest mentors I have ever watched in action.”
One of the nominating students, Tiffany Huynh, wrote, “Ms. Cole is always searching for better ways to improve HilHi’s climate and culture and is so proud of our schools immense diversity – unlike any other person I know. She has gone out of her way to build a close relationship with ALL of us (60+ student leaders). Alumni from past years always come back to visit Ms. Cole – this shows her impact on students’ lives, past and present. I could not imagine my high school experience or student council without seeing her red hair every day!”
Sarah supports her students beyond the classroom and school – she helps them attend conferences, summer camps and demonstrates the importance of networking with other students and schools. At the end of the year, Sara hosts a dinner for STUCO. At it, she honors each senior with a personal speech and gives them a children’s book that reminds her of them. There is not a dry eye in the house. She personalizes each student’s experience. Mama Cole (as she is often referred to) and the relationships she creates are magic!
We are honored to have Sarah Cole represent Oregon and OASC this year as the Activities Adviser of the Year!
