IMLA Region 2

 2004 Educator of the Year

Sallie Wilhelm

Sallie Wilhelm has been a teacher at Orofino Junior High for the past 23 years.  During that time she has been actively involved in not only countless school activities, but with her community and church as well.

   Four years ago Sallie gave up coaching to take on the responsibility of the district's Drug Free Schools Coordinator for the Orofino area. Some of her responsibilities include forming and managing the budget for the district drug free funds. She sees that all schools are included and is in charge of seeing that the money the district receives is spent in an equal and appropriate manner. She has taken on the responsibility of being the advisor for our school SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) program and runs the Red Ribbon Week activities throughout the junior high.  She was also the advisor for the 7th grade class.

   Sallie was instrumental in starting our Student Assistance Program this at Orofino Junior High. Not only was she instrumental in obtaining a grant to finance the program, she was one of the first staff members to be trained as a support group facilitator and has given up personal time to help run the groups.

 For the past several years Sallie has been one of the trainers for the junior high's Natural Helper's Program.  She spends several days of her summer vacation time preparing for, and camping with, 20-30 junior and senior high school students to prepare them for their responsibilities throughout the year.  In the past, she took on the responsibilities of our Youth for Justice Program and escorted a representative group from Orofino High School to a week-end "Idaho Drug Free Youth" convention in Coeur d' Alene.

   Sallie is also a member of the American Association of University Women and has worked on various projects, such as the music scholarship program, for the benefit of youth throughout Orofino. She is a member of CICOY, Clearwater Youth Alliance and the Joint School District 171 Strategic Planning Committee.  She is a natural for these types of committees because she has a unique ability to get things done when others don't seem to be able to.

  Along with these and various other activities, Sallie has raised a husband and two children and is more than willing to give of her time and energy for anything related to the youth of this community.  Her dedication and enthusiasm has proven to be an inspiration to her co-workers, and a role model for not only her children, but for all she comes in contact with. Her dedication to youth and her community is exemplary, and she is well deserving of this award.