For David Gordon,fifth-grade teacher at Oakridge OR, chess is more than a game-it's a way to develop his students's concentration, as well as their decision-making and problem-solving skills. Mr. Gordon was coordinator of Westridge's Scholastic Chess Club for 13 years. Dr.Gordon has led his students to victory at regional and state competitions. One of his daughters won 3 out of 5 matches at Nationals. In the classroom, he stimulates his students' problem-solving abilities through a hands-on unit on model rockets that integrates math and science and culminates in a school-wide rocket show. He also co-authored the district curriculum goals with a group of curriculum directors and wrote and received a grant for $225,000 on his own time during the summer of 1997.
Mr. Gordon is currently the Varsity Softball coach. He also has been volunteering with the Oakridge Fire and EMS department for 25 years, currently, as an Advanced EMT.
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1987 Northwest Nazarene College, B.A.
