JOSEPH — A kindergarten teacher at Joseph Charter School was honored Thursday, Sept. 21, as the Regional Teacher of the Year by the school and the Oregon Lottery, the latter of which presented her with a check for $1,000.

Alyse Shetler has been a teacher for 15 years and 13 of those years have been at Joseph.

Joseph Charter School Superintendent and Elementary School Principal Lance Homan, who nominated Shetler for the honor, asked the crowded gymnasium of students to stand if they at one time had Shetler for their kindergarten teacher. More than half the students stood.

“She’s a one-of-a-kind, genuine, caring teacher who genuinely loves everyone,” Homan said. “She’s energetic and a real go-getter.”

Junior-Senior High School Principal Jason Gorham agreed with Homan.

“She’s full of energy and able to connect with kids in a very meaningful way,” he said.

Ken Conner, the local representative for the Oregon Lottery who presented Shetler with the check, said she’ll now be in contention for the statewide Teacher of the Year honor. There are 17 regions, he said. Conner recalled that the Teacher of the Year program dates back to 2016 when the state decided it needed to honor teachers.

Asked what she planned to spend the $1,000 on, Shetler laughed and said, “Probably on my class.”