We are pleased to announce that Gretchen Fisher has been selected as the 2022/23 UPSD Teacher of the Year. Ms. Fisher has been an exceptional teacher, colleague and leader in University Place School District for more than 15 years.
Gretchen Fisher received a BS in Biology from Northern Arizona University and later enrolled in the Masters in Teaching program at the University of Puget Sound. In the process of obtaining her Washington State Teaching Certificate, Ms. Fisher was a student teacher at Curtis High School in 1998/99. She began her teaching career in the Highline School District as a Science Teacher in 1999 and remained there until 2007 when she returned to Curtis High School and joined the Biology team there. Gretchen was an immediate contributor to the Biology team at Curtis during the early years of Professional Learning Communities.
Today, Gretchen Fisher is a distinguished teacher, a teacher-leader and a mentor to new teachers. Gretchen leads formally as a Professional Learning Community Leader but also demonstrates strong leadership informally through her commitment to collaboration, teaching excellence, school improvement and a guaranteed and viable curriculum. She welcomes community members who work in fields related to the biomedical courses to ensure that students learn directly from industry leaders.
Ms. Fisher consistently aims to improve her own practice, the effectiveness of her team and the quality of her school. Not only has Ms. Fisher demonstrated strong leadership in establishing effective Professional Learning Communities, but she has also helped to lead implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards and the CHS Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences program. Gretchen continues to lead this CTE program today, serves as a PLC Leader and also as a Career Technical Student Organization Advisor.