Linfield University congratulates Tramaine Payne ’98 on his selection as McMinnville School District’s Distinguished Educator of the Year. In addition to his role as PE teacher at Patton Middle School, Payne is in his 23rd year as a member of Linfield’s track and field coaching staff. He is an assistant coach, overseeing the sprinters. Payne, who graduated from Linfield in 1998, is a former all-star football player for the Wildcats. He was honored in 2016 as the USTFCCCA NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field West Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
The following announcement is courtesy of McMinnville School District:
Patton teacher Tramaine Payne named Distinguished Educator of the Year
Patton Middle School teacher Tramaine Payne has been named Educator of the Year by McMinnville’s Distinguished Service Awards. He was surprised with the news this morning at a school staff meeting.
Payne joined the McMinnville School District in January 2003 as an Alternative Education teacher at Patton and transitioned to PE teacher in 2006. He has spent 22 years teaching at Patton.
His nomination noted his selflessness and kindness and said “He is innovative and creative when it comes to meeting the needs of our students where they are…. He can’t walk through the halls without a student shouting ‘Mr. Payne!’ and coming up and getting a high five…. It is not beyond him to ref a football game, attend an out of town basketball game, or watch a performance our students are in when he is invited. He truly cares about each student and will do anything he can to make their experience at our place the best it can be.”
The designation will be officially celebrated on Wednesday, May 14 at the Bindery Event Space from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. To purchase a table for 8, please email events@mcminnvillebindery.com.
In addition to the Educator honor, the Distinguished Service Awards will recognize others who have made a positive impact on the community, including
- Pablo Munoz Farms – Farmer of the Year
- Adam Garvin – Junior Citizen of the Year
- Paul Haddeland and Steve Rupp – Co-Men of the Year
- Sylla McClellan – Woman of the Year
Previous winners
The Distinguished Educator of the Year has been recognizing and honoring outstanding educators for 50 years. Past winners include:
- 2023 – Melissa Hernandez
- 2022 – Kindra Butler**
- 2021 – Emily Wilcox
- 2020 – (pandemic pause)
- 2019 – Jerod Harney
- 2018 – Molly Hay* ’63
- 2017 – Susanne Sayles* ’11
- 2016 – Kelly Carlson* ’00
- 2015 – Erik Svec
- 2014 – Reid Kimura
- 2013 – David Clauson
- 2012 – Angela Darrow
- 2011 – Cory Eklund
- 2010 – Kerrie Savage
- 2009 – Jennifer Sipprell
- 2008 – Veronica Chase* ’05
- 2007 – Jeff Templeton
- 2006 – Kathleen Fraser
- 2005 – Dixie Seibel
- 2004 – Beth Downs
- 2003 – Judy Catt
- 2002 – Dianne Massey* ’80
- 2001 – Kathy Baird
- 2000 – Tony Vicknair
- 1999 – Jodi Garritson
- 1998 – Mary Lukehart* ’86
- 1997 – Steve Tillery* ’83
- 1996 – H. D. Weddell
- 1995 – Boyd Keyser* ’90
- 1994 – Shane Kimura* ’78
- 1993 – Andrea Brown* ’88
- 1992 – Marilyn Salter
- 1991 – Ursula Dye
- 1990 – Sheila Lenker* ’78
- 1989 – Jim Ray
- 1988 – Rick Carpenter
- 1987 – Jeff Autencio* ’79
- 1986 – Lan Carpenter
- 1985 – Kathy Cerwinske
- 1984 – Barry Lilly
- 1983 – Allison Perrin Autencio
- 1982 – Lorna Miller / Mary Ringer* ’85
- 1981 – Ann Towsley
- 1980 – Charles Biederman
- 1979 – Veneta Volp
- 1978 – Donald Hicks* ’71
- 1977 – Deborah Johansen
- 1976 – Carolyn Rice
- 1975 – Ron Wilkenson
- 1974 – Bill Maas
Editor note: Educators on this list with an asterik and class year (* ’00) are Linfield University alumni. Those with a double asterik ** completed a non-degree program, including a certification or endorsement, at Linfield. Congratulations to all these Wildcat teachers!
