Summit High School Teacher Honored with Educator of the Year Congressional Service Award
Oakley Van Oss, the Construction and Welding teacher at Summit High School, has been named Educator of the Year by District 2 Congressman Joe Neguse! This prestigious recognition adds to Oakley’s impressive list of local, state, and national accolades for his outstanding construction program.
What sets Oakley apart is his dedication to accessibility and inclusivity. He teaches his classes in both Spanish and English, ensuring that welding and construction education is available to all students. Under his guidance and industry support from the Summit County community, students have completed a 288-square-foot tiny home and are currently halfway through building a 399-square-foot tiny home.
Summit High School benefits from its partnership with the Summit County Builders Association, a Chapter of CICC. This collaboration has provided Oakley and his students with invaluable support from the local building community, including assistance with the tiny home projects and employment opportunities for students.
Oakley’s Awards and Achievements:
- 2023: Summit Foundation Teacher of the Year
- 2024: $50,000 Tools for Schools Award from Harbor Freight
- 2024: Educator of the Year Congressional Service Award
Oakley’s students, school, community, and CICC are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and inspiring educator leading the way!
oakley1
39
students-1024×683
47
46
45
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
43
42
4
5
6
7
