Shoemaker Honored As Teacher of The Year

Ontario, OR (May 21, 2025) – Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) is proud to announce that Jeretta Shoemaker, a dedicated faculty member in the Science Department, has been selected as Teacher of the Year by the students of TVCC. This prestigious recognition highlights Shoemaker’s unwavering commitment to student success and the profound impact of personal relationships in education.

Shoemaker began her educational journey as a non-traditional student at TVCC in 2008, balancing family, work, and academics. Shoemaker credits the support she received from instructors during this time as being instrumental in her success. Motivated by these experiences, Shoemaker pursued a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Boise State University, graduating Cum Laude, followed by a Master of Science in Science Education from Montana State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Since 2010, Shoemaker has been an integral part of the TVCC community, starting as a Science Lab Manager and later transitioning to an adjunct faculty role in 2017. In 2022, Shoemaker was hired as provisional faculty and achieved tenure in 2025. She currently teaches several TVCC courses including Majors Biology Series, Environmental Science, Natural Resources Ecology, and Medical Terminology Sequence.

Students consistently commend Shoemaker for her approachable demeanor, dedication to student success, and the genuine care shown for each individual's learning journey. This recognition underscores the importance of fostering supportive and personalized educational environments. As shared by TVCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Chapter, “As students of Treasure Valley Community College, we look to teachers to have a few characteristics: respect, commitmentand knowledge. The individual receiving the Teacher of the Year Award has shown all of these characteristics and more. The teacher shows respect to students and other faculty by having pride in themselves and their work. Their commitment to helping others learn, change, and grow year after year has not gone unnoticed. This Year’s winner has also shown mastery in their field by demonstrating an ability to motivate and inspire students, as well as being able to relate the subject matter to their lives.”

As part of this honor, Shoemaker will deliver one of the keynote addresses at TVCC's 2025 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 13, 2025, in the John J. Easly Gymnasium. This opportunity will allow Shoemaker to inspire graduates and share insights drawn from her own educational journey and experiences.

TVCC extends heartfelt congratulations to Jeretta Shoemaker for this well-deserved honor and expresses gratitude for her continued contributions to the academic and personal growth of students.

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Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) has been serving students since 1962 as an affordable, welcoming, and excellence-driven comprehensive community college. TVCC’s main campus is located in the heart of Ontario, Oregon, with three other locations across Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho. A caring staff and faculty serve more than 3,000 students annually. Students can find their path to success here: from two-year degree programs to career and technical training, college credit for high school students to healthcare certifications, aviation programs to thriving athletics, TVCC offers a welcoming environment to launch students into their futures.