Celebrating Washington’s 2017 Teacher of the Year
Washington’s Teacher of the Year program recognizes as many as ten regional finalists and selects one state Teacher of the Year annually. This state Teacher of the Year is Washington’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year.
OSPI honors educators in a variety of categories. Go here to find out more: http://www.k12.wa.us/EducationAwards/default.aspx.
2017 State Teacher of the Year
Camille Jones, Schoolwide Enrichment/Hi-Cap
(Pioneer Elementary • Quincy School District)
2017 Regional Teachers of the Year
Tim Larson, 3rd grade
(P.C. Jantz Elementary • Odessa School District)
José Corona, 3rd grade
(Kirkwood Elementary • Toppenish School District)
Kendra Yamamoto, Pre-school & BEST Coordinator
(King Elementary • Vancouver School District)
Carol McKay, Math
(Capital High School • Olympia School District)
John Gallagher, Science
(Port Angeles High School • Port Angeles School District)
Alisa Louie, English Language Learners
(Evergreen Heights Elementary • Auburn School District)
Elizabeth Loftus, Special Education/Emotional Behavioral Disorders
(Olympic View Elementary • Oak Harbor School District)
2015 Milken Educator
Ryan Lafferty, Science
(International School • Bellevue School District)
2016 State Finalists for the Presidential Award
(for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching)
Kimberly Astle, Science
(Fisher’s Landing Elementary • Evergreen School District)
Jana Dean, Math
(Jefferson Middle School • Olympia School District)
Julie Fry, Science
(Roosevelt Elementary • Yakima School District)
Tricia Hukee, Math
(Daffodil Valley Elementary • Sumner School District)
Veronique Paquette, Science
(Kenroy Elementary • Eastmont School District)
Kitten Vaa, Science
(Brighton School, Mountlake Terrace)
2017 State Classified School Employee of the Year
Carolyn Griffin-Bugert, Grant Coordinator
(Wenatchee School District)
2017 Regional Classified School Employees of the Year
Rhonda Christian, Library & Media Assistant
(Jenkins High School • Chewelah School District)
Daniel Holzer, Custodian
(Terrace Heights Elementary • East Valley School District)
Mary Ann Sturdivan, Career Program Specialist
(Woodland High School • Woodland School District)
Paul Christian, Custodian & Maintenance
(Southside School District)
Tonja Smith, Office Manager
(North Kitsap High School • North Kitsap School District)
Debra Campbell, Chief Financial Officer
(Sumner School District)
Laura Jepsen, Graduation Success Coordinator
(Kennewick High School • Kennewick School District)
Debra Johnsrud, Paraeducator & Administrative Assistant
(Terrace Park School • Edmonds School District)
2017 Principals of the Year
Distinguished Elementary Principal of the Year
Adina Brito
Evergreen Elementary • Shelton School District
(Middle Level Principal of the Year)
Doug Kaplicky
(East Valley Middle School • East Valley School District)
High School Principal of the Year
Dan Bessett
(Wilson High School • Tacoma School District)
Assistant Principal of the Year
Ricardo Iñiguez
(Wenatchee High School • Wenatchee School District)
2017 Superintendent of the Year
Gary Cohn
(Everett School District)
2016 History Teacher of the Year
Shari Conditt, AP US History & Government
(Woodland High School • Woodland School District)
