May 16, 2019: At 1:16 pm PDT today, Superintendent, Dr. Jack Irion, was notified from the Washington State Board of Education that five schools in the Yakima School District are being honored in June as "State-Recognized Schools" for closing gaps and demonstrating improvement among student groups identified for support.
Congratulations to:
A.C. Davis High School, Ryan McDaniel, Principal
Gilbert Elementary, Stephanie Rosbach, Principal
Hoover Elementary School, Julio Sanchez, Principal
McClure Elementary, Deb Lavis, Principal
Nob Hill Elementary, Erin Thomas, Principal
These schools will be honored at a School Recognition Event on June 6th with simultaneous ceremonies in Olympia and Spokane.
Recognition criteria
SBE, OSPI, and EOGOAC are recognizing schools who have demonstrated performance along a continuum of improvement, closing opportunity gaps in the Washington School Improvement Framework (WSIF) measures. Measures for the first year include both academic indicators (proficiency, growth, graduation rate, English language progress) as well as school quality and student success measures (dual credit participation, regular attendance, and ninth grade on track rates).
UPDATE 5:00 pm - WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
Congratulations to our five 2019 Crystal Apple winners (photos attached)!
|
Blink (Hill) |
Nichola |
Robertson Elementary School |
Music Teacher |
|
Cisneros |
Kristin |
Adams Elementary school |
Math Interventionist |
|
Koenig |
Adam |
Lewis & Clark Middle School |
Instructional Facilitator |
|
McLean |
Debbie |
Roosevelt Elementary School |
Kindergarten Teacher |
|
Mitchell |
K.C. |
Ridgeview Elementary school |
Principal |
___________________________________________________________________________________
RELEASE FROM EARLIER TODAY:
Today launches Teacher Appreciation Week! And what better way to start the week than a ceremony to announce the winners of the 2019 Crystal Apple Awards.
The 32nd annual Crystal Apple Awards ceremony will be underway today at YV-TECH, 1120 S 18th Street in Yakima. The event was organized and will be emceed by community co-chairs Cal Blethen of RBC Wealth Management and Carmela Solorzano of the Yakima Herald-Republic.
Twenty-two members of the Yakima School District's certified staff were nominated by their peers, the community and students this year (names listed below) and five winners were selected by a volunteer selection committee. The winners will be announced for the first time at about 4:30 pm today during the ceremony, which begins at 4:00 pm (with a reception beginning at 3:30 pm). The winners receive a $1000 check from funds raised by local business sponsors of the event (sponsors listed below).
Media is invited to attend the ceremony to hear and report the names of the winners as they are announced. A separate media release will go out at 5:00 pm today with the names of photos of the winners, plus a full page display announcement will appear in the Yakima Herald-Republic on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
2019 Nominees:
Michelle Batali
Michelle Beard
Nichola Blink (Hill)
Teresa Blondin
Maria Chavez Ceja
Kristin Cisneros
Rick Cline
Al Fischer
Katherine Graham
Sharon Harris
Shauna Heilman
Adam Koenig
Debbie McLean
Sylvia Mendoza
K.C. Mitchell
Ana Montemayor
Kimberlee Newell
Jeffrey Rist
Julio Sanchez
Rosemary Saul
Bob Stanley
Kimberly Wallberg
About Crystal Apple:
Crystal Apple Awards Program
The John McAlister Crystal Apple Awards were established in 1988 to honor the teaching profession as a whole by identifying a few of the many certificated individuals who positively impact the lives and futures of their students.
The committee is composed of corporate business contributors and individuals who believe the community should express its awareness and appreciation for the hundreds of outstanding teachers in the Yakima Public Schools.
The goals of the John McAlister Crystal Apple Awards are to:
- Reward excellence in teaching in the Yakima Public Schools.
- Encourage creative and quality instruction.
- Encourage the development of a positive learning environment.
- Encourage excellent teachers to remain in teaching as a career.
- Provide an incentive for the individual initiative on the part of teachers.
- Contribute in a substantive way to the improvement of education in the Yakima Public Schools.
Sponsors:
Heritage University
Tree Top
RBC Wealth Management
Coca-Cola of Yakima
GESA Credit Union
Banner Bank
Harvest Auto
Clifton Larson Allen
Dave & Cindy Hargreaves
Menke, Jackson, Beyer LLP
Pacific Power
Pexco Aerospace
Sundquist Family
Tamaki Law
Western Materials
Yakima Schools Foundation
Yakima Community Foundation
Heritage Moultray Real Estate Services
Horizon Distribution
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Federal Savings and Loan
Today launches Teacher Appreciation Week! And what better way to start the week than a ceremony to announce the winners of the 2019 Crystal Apple Awards.
The 32nd annual Crystal Apple Awards ceremony will be underway today at YV-TECH, 1120 S 18th Street in Yakima. The event was organized and will be emceed by community co-chairs Cal Blethen of RBC Wealth Management and Carmela Solorzano of the Yakima Herald-Republic.
Twenty-two members of the Yakima School District's certified staff were nominated by their peers, the community and students this year (names listed below) and five winners were selected by a volunteer selection committee. The winners will be announced for the first time at about 4:30 pm today during the ceremony, which begins at 4:00 pm (with a reception beginning at 3:30 pm). The winners receive a $1000 check from funds raised by local business sponsors of the event (sponsors listed below).
Media is invited to attend the ceremony to hear and report the names of the winners as they are announced. A separate media release will go out at 5:00 pm today with the names of photos of the winners, plus a large display ad will appear in the Yakima Herald-Republic on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
2019 Nominees:
Michelle Batali
Michelle Beard
Nichola Blink (Hill)
Teresa Blondin
Maria Chavez Ceja
Kristin Cisneros
Rick Cline
Al Fischer
Katherine Graham
Sharon Harris
Shauna Heilman
Adam Koenig
Debbie McLean
Sylvia Mendoza
K.C. Mitchell
Ana Montemayor
Kimberlee Newell
Jeffrey Rist
Julio Sanchez
Rosemary Saul
Bob Stanley
Kimberly Wallberg
About Crystal Apple:
Crystal Apple Awards Program
The John McAlister Crystal Apple Awards were established in 1988 to honor the teaching profession as a whole by identifying a few of the many certificated individuals who positively impact the lives and futures of their students.
The committee is composed of corporate business contributors and individuals who believe the community should express its awareness and appreciation for the hundreds of outstanding teachers in the Yakima Public Schools.
The goals of the John McAlister Crystal Apple Awards are to:
- Reward excellence in teaching in the Yakima Public Schools.
- Encourage creative and quality instruction.
- Encourage the development of a positive learning environment.
- Encourage excellent teachers to remain in teaching as a career.
- Provide an incentive for the individual initiative on the part of teachers.
- Contribute in a substantive way to the improvement of education in the Yakima Public Schools.
Sponsors:
Heritage University
Tree Top
RBC Wealth Management
Coca-Cola of Yakima
GESA Credit Union
Banner Bank
Harvest Auto
Clifton Larson Allen
Dave & Cindy Hargreaves
Menke, Jackson, Beyer LLP
Pacific Power
Pexco Aerospace
Sundquist Family
Tamaki Law
Western Materials
Yakima Schools Foundation
Yakima Community Foundation
Heritage Moultray Real Estate
Horizon Distribution
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
The community is invited!
Eisenhower High School will be hosting it's 8th Annual Outdoor Cinco de Mayo Festival!
WHEN: Friday, May 3rd from 11:30 am-12:45 pm.
WHERE: Eisenhower High School on 44th Avenue (between Tieton and Arlington). Note: 44th Avenue will be blocked off for the festival.
Students, staff, parents and community business vendors come together to celebrate a wonderful culture, eat great food, enjoy festive music, and play games. We invite you to come and see what wonderful things "kids are doing these days!'
IKE sports and activities clubs will have tables to sell food and crafts. Expect to see students selling: weaved bracelets, decals, doughnuts, tamales, ice cream sandwiches, corn in a cup, churros, rootbeer floats and more!
Commercial food trucks expected at the festival include Blissful Bites, Taco el Ray, Taqueria la Palapa, Gyro Guys, Sonic Ice Cream truck, Booster Tamales, and Tom-Toms.
This event is during the school day but open to the public so media is welcome without placing a formal inquiry online.
Questions? Contact IKE teacher Lori Benoit at benoit.lori@yakimaschools.org.
The Yakima School District has selected Nancy Smith as the next principal of Roosevelt Elementary School at 120 N 16th Ave.
Nancy Smith is in her third year at Roosevelt Elementary School. She began her career in Yakima in 2016 as the Assistant Principal at Roosevelt and stepped in as the Interim Principal for the 2018-19 school year. Mrs. Smith came to Yakima when her husband, Craig, accepted a position at Washington Beef in Toppenish and their family relocated from Tennessee to Washington.
Prior to coming to Washington state, Nancy spent 25 years educating children in Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Her experience spans grades Kindergarten through college and has served as a classroom teacher, reading coach for students and teachers, special education teacher, presenter for districts, states and regions, developer of curriculum and programs which impacted change in each position.
Nancy received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Cumberland University, TN; her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction/ Special Education from Tennessee Technological University, TN; and her Administration and Leadership endorsement from Cumberland University, TN.
During Nancy’s career, she has received multiple recognitions for her efforts in education. She has been selected as a building, district, and regional Teacher of the Year, but believes her greatest accomplishment are the letters she receives from previous students who share the impact she had on their lives. Mrs. Smith strives to instill in all students the desire to push beyond boundaries and become the greatest person she can become.
Nancy and her husband, Craig, have been married for 30 years. They have two adult daughters, Chelsea, and Breanna who chose to follow their parents to Washington to pursue their career goals in the Pacific Northwest. When not at work Nancy enjoys the refuge of their home and the beautiful weather in Yakima.
“I am honored and excited for the opportunity to continue leading Roosevelt. The students, staff, and families deserve nothing less than my best and I am committed to ensuring Roosevelt Elementary becomes a school of distinction.”
The Yakima School District will soon improve the student and fan experience at Zaepfel Stadium and Don Holder Track with the help from Gesa Credit Union.
Gesa Credit Union is funding nearly the entire cost to purchase and install a new Daktronics scoreboard at Zaepfel Stadium.
"The scoreboard will add a brand new dimension to any activity at the stadium. It will be an incredible feature for spectators and athletes. As an example, for track, althletes and spectators will see the results as the finish line is crossed. In addition, this scoreboard is a key element to bringing larger-scale engagements to Yakima." said Phil English, Eisenhower Track and Cross Country Head Coach
The Gesa logo will have a prominent fixed location on the board. In addition, to honor our long history with Pepsi, the Pepsi logo will be present on the board as well.
Opportunities for businesses in the community to purchase advertisements on the video portion of the new scoreboard will begin fall of 2019. Please contact District Athletic Director, Cece Mahre, for questions about advertisements.
Gesa President & CEO, Don Miller, and Yakima Schools District Superintendent, Dr. Jack Irion, will sign the agreement formally tomorrow (Friday) at 1:00 p.m. at YSD's Central Administration Building, Conference Room B, 104 N 4th Avenue. Media is welcome.
About Yakima School District:
The Yakima School District is located primarily within the boundaries of the City of Yakima. Serving a diverse population of nearly 16,000 students, Yakima is the 20thlargest district in Washington, the fourth largest in Eastern Washington, and the 2nd largest Latino-majority district in the state.
One size doesn't fit all, especially when it comes to education. Every elementary school in the district provides full-day, every day kindergarten classes; International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement programs at two high schools attract students from out of district; an already strong vocational program is growing every day with a new state-of-the-art skills center; and alternative offerings include Stanton Academy, Yakima Online! and various satellite programs. https://www.yakimaschools.org/domain/13
About Gesa Credit Union:
Gesa Credit Union has served communities since 1953, and is one of the state’s largest credit unions with over $2 billion in assets and over 165,000 members. Gesa is a full service financial institution that offers a complete array of consumer, mortgage and business products and services. Headquartered in Richland, Washington, Gesa operates 17 Member Service Centers in the Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, West Richland, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Yakima and Spokane communities. Gesa also supports eleven student-operated high school branches – the most in the state. Gesa’s commitment to local communities includes support for Junior Achievement, the American Red Cross, annual youth scholarships, and free financial seminars open to members and the general public. For more information visit www.gesa.com.