Hood River Valley High School’s Mark Steighner has been selected by the Oregon Music Educators Association as the state’s Outstanding Music Educator of the Year.  Steighner has been teaching in Hood River since 1979, and began teaching choral and instrumental music at HRV in 1984.  During his tenure he has directed 50 musicals at the high school and in the community, including eight original musicals.  His ensembles have commissioned over twenty new pieces, and HRV choirs and bands have qualified for state contests every year since 1988.  Steighner also teaches music at Columbia Gorge Community College and directs the community orchestra and choir.  Steighner, who will retire at the end of the school year, will be honored this weekend at the annual Oregon Music Educators Association conference.