Cole Haole-Valenzuela
West Salem High School
Salem, Oregon
WSHS very own Choir Director, Cole-Haole Valenzuela (aka Mr. H) received the 2023 National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) for the Outstanding Music Educator of the Year award.
Noted as a community builder, Cole Haole-Valenzuela is highly involved within the city of Salem and has been in education for nearly a decade. As an Oregon American Choral Director’s Association (OACDA) Emerging Conductor Award winner, Haole-Valenzuela’s ensembles have placed in the top four of nearly every competition they have been in the past five years.
A total of 56 individuals have been selected to receive Outstanding Performing Arts Educator Awards from the NFHS, including 24 with Outstanding Music Educator Awards, 20 with Outstanding Speech and Debate Educator Awards and 12 with Outstanding Theatre Awards.
The 24 music honorees include seven section recipients and 17 state recipients. Eight individuals are receiving section awards in speech and debate and 12 will be honored with state awards. In the first-ever theatre awards being given, there are six section and six state recipients.
Since 1988 when the first Outstanding Speech/Debate/Theatre Educator Awards were presented, 246 individuals have received section awards and 400 have been honored with state awards. The Outstanding Music Educator Awards began a year later in 1989, and 206 individuals have received section awards and another 379 have been honored with state awards. The Outstanding Theatre Award was given for the first time this year, separating it from the Outstanding Speech/Debate Educator Award, with six section and six state awards presented.
