West Linn-Wilsonville Bilingual Specialist Maria de Lourdes Horton was recently named the Oregon Association of Latino Administrators Distinguished Latina Educator Award for 2021.

The prestigious honor is no surprise for anyone who has interacted with Maria, either through West Linn-Wilsonville schools or through the district’s Family Empowerment Center, which Maria currently manages.

Maria was presented with the award in January, having been selected from a talented and dedicated pool of candidates from across the State of Oregon. Maria has served in the district for well over a decade, working at Boones Ferry Primary, Lowrie Primary, and for the district’s Human Resources Department before her transition to the Family Empowerment Center this school year. For years Maria has provided connection for students and families. Now, in her new role as the district’s bilingual specialist and at the FEC, Maria has partnered with local organizations to gather resources, connect parents, and empower families across West Linn and Wilsonville.

OALA’s mission is to create a vehicle to support and mentor Latino Administrators as well as Latino educators who aspire to become administrators in Oregon. Their goals include ensuring educational equity for all students, especially those of Latino heritage, and to advocate at the federal, state, and local level for equitable educational policies impacting Latino students.

Maria will be recognized virtually at the annual OALA conference on Friday, Feb. 5. Learn more about OALA by visiting their website, or learn more about the district’s Family Empowerment Center by visiting the district website.