Posted November 20, 2006

The Kent, Federal Way, and Pasco school districts have been honored by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) for outstanding efforts to promote and value diversity/multicultural education in their schools and their communities.

School board members and superintendents from the three districts were presented the association's 2006 Diversity Awards during the WSSDA Annual Conference in Spokane this past week. The awards are presented each year by WSSDA, an organization made up of all locally elected school board members in the state.

Districts that apply for the awards submit an essay describing the steps they have taken to implement the state of Washington’s Joint Policy on Equity in Education. The policy emphasizes fairness, openness and equitable access for all students in public schools by eliminating prejudice, bigotry and discrimination, addressing racial integration and language needs, hiring a diverse staff, and involving the community.

Award-winning essays are made available to all school boards and districts in the state as an example of successful strategies and best practices.

The WSSDA Diversity Awards program is now in its 13th year. Awards are offered to small, medium and large school districts.

Federal Way School District
The Federal Way School District was selected to receive a WSSDA Diversity Award in the category of districts with more than 10,000 students (the district enrolls approximately 22,400). Members of the school board are Ed Barney, Evelyn Castellar, Charlie Hoff, Dave Larson and Tom Madden. The district superintendent is Thomas Murphy.

In its award application, the district noted that it created and expanded an office of equity and achievement to develop initiatives for closing the achievement gap, to provide culturally competent staff development, and to assist staff with effective strategies for working with students in poverty.

The district has undertaken a number of initiatives to promote success across all student groups, including the Summer Bridge Program, English Language Learner programs, Latino Night School, all-day kindergarten, and programs to encourage diverse students to enroll in rigorous courses. The district has also established a family partnership advocate to help parents navigate their way through the school system. Three Federal Way high schools are among 51 in the state recognized by Standard and Poor’s for narrowing the achievement gap.

Kent School District
The Kent district was also selected to receive a WSSDA Diversity Award in the category of districts with more than 10,000 students (the district enrolls just over 27,000). Members of the school board are Jim Berrios, Bill Boyce, Sandy Collins, Lisa Holliday and Mike Jensen. The district superintendent is Barbara Grohe.

In its award application, the district notes that one of its primary strategic goals is to "eliminate the achievement gap demonstrated by students of color, students in poverty and special needs students." All 40 of the district’s school improvement plans address this goal by providing literacy coaches, mentors, tutors, extended-day programs, summer schools, reading/math camps, para-educator support and other interventions to assist students who may be struggling academically. The district’s English Language Learners’ Program serves approximately 3,300 students speaking almost 100 different languages. Kent has established a community oversight committee which studies diversity issues and monitors the district’s commitment to equity. It also conducts numerous multicultural activities and outreach programs, provides diversity training to almost 400 employees a year, and translates documents into several different languages.

Pasco School District
The Pasco School District was also selected to receive a WSSDA Diversity Award in the category of districts with more than 10,000 students (the district enrolls approximately 11,500). The board members are Ricardo Espinoza, Pete Felsted, John Hergert, Bill Leggett and Saul Martinez. The student representative to the board is Jennifer Petty. The district superintendent is Saundra Hill.

In its award application, the district notes that it serves a student population that has the highest ethnic, socio-economic and linguistic diversity in the state of Washington. The district has received national recognition for its parent involvement programs and its leadership in providing innovative, student-centered programs that are based on data about student needs. Pasco offers extended learning opportunities such as free summer school, early start kindergarten, and extended first grade. The district conducts parent meetings in two languages, provides free classes for parents in Spanish and English, and offers free childcare for parent sessions and meetings. Knowing that participation in arts, athletics and activities increases performance in academics, the district subsidizes all such programs to ensure access by students in poverty. The district also offers an "Instruments for Loan" program allowing all children equitable access to expensive instruments, and a free middle school summer band camp.

(Note: There were no awards this year in the small and medium district categories).

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