CONGRATULATIONS to the Wapato School Board of Directors for earning the State “Board of Distinction” recognition for the fifth year in a row from the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA). Wapato School Board members include President, Maria Erickson, Vice President, Sarah Divina, Javier Vela, John Francisco and Lorenzo Alvarado.
The annual WSSDA Boards of Distinction program honors school boards that demonstrate effective use of the Washington School Board Standards. The standards, developed and adopted by WSSDA in 2009, promote research-based governance practices that lead to high levels of student and district achievement, and help close the opportunity gap.
According to WSSDA, in a year of shifting instructional models and daunting health and safety challenges, this year’s Boards of Distinction application asked school directors to illustrate how their actions helped their school districts close opportunity gaps. To be awarded, boards had to show a clear link between their leadership in applying the Washington School Board Standards and closing gaps that impact student success.
“The judges were very impressed,” said WSSDA Director of Leadership Development Tricia Lubach. “Not only by the emphasis each of the boards placed on ensuring equity and access for their students, but also that they did so in unique ways that were tailored to their specific communities.”
The Wapato Board’s selection as a Board of Distinction also puts it in the running to be chosen as one of the Boards of the Year in the State. Each year WSSDA recognizes one board from each of its three categories of small, medium & large school districts as a Board of the Year.
All of the Boards of Distinction honorees will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the Annual State WSSDA Conference taking place virtually this year from November 18-21. It is during that ceremony when the Boards of the Year winners will also be announced.