Each year, the Highline Schools Foundation solicits nominations from community members, district employees and parents for its prestigious and much-anticipated Gold Star Awards.
This year’s list of impressive nominees includes well-deserving teachers, staff, administrators and volunteers. Highline Schools Foundation congratulates them all and looks forward to celebrating them at the Gold Star Awards BASH on March 14, 2019 (info below).
The 2019 Gold Star Award Nominees Are…
Outstanding Alumnus:
- Shellie Hart, Warm 106.9; Highline High School Alumni
- Ratany Sieng, Highline Public Schools; Mount Rainier High School Alumni
- Adam Smith, United States House of Representatives representing Washington’s 9th congressional district; Tyee High School Alumni
- Pat Thompson, Evergreen High School Alumni; YES Foundation of White Center
Outstanding Administrator:
- Jacqueline Downey, Evergreen High School, Principal
- Kathy Emerick, Director Of Teacher Initiatives
- David Estes, Puget Sound Skills Center, Assistant Principal
- Alicia Gaynor, Chinook Middle School, Assistant Principal
- Kimberly Kinzer, Teaching, Learning and Leadership, Executive Director
- Chad Kodama, Sylvester Middle School, Assistant Principal
- Adina Thea, Mount View Elementary, Principal
Outstanding Rookie Teacher:
- Kacie Harada, Parkside Elementary, Teacher – Kindergarten
- Erin Hocevar Ortiz, Evergreen High School, Teacher – Dance, PE
- Cooper Johnson, Marvista, Teacher – Grade 4
- Kelly Morris, Hilltop Elementary, Teacher – Grade 1
- Jesse Perez, Hazel Valley Elementary, Teacher – ILC Intermediate Elementary
- Jeannie Rakamnuaykit, White Center Heights Elementary, Teacher – Grade 4
Outstanding Staff (Professional or Classified Support):
- Iris Andaluz Oregon, Gregory Heights Elementary, ELL Paraprofessional
- Ryan Bunda, McMicken Heights Elementary, Counselor
- Dominick Fischburg, Beverly Park Elementary, Custodian
- Deborah Gardner, Parkside Elementary, Paraeducator
- Lory Hidano, Gregory Heights Elementary, Counselor
- Logan Hood, Madrona Elementary, Paraeducator
- Heather Mathias, McMicken Heights Elementary, Office Assistant
- Trish McGuire, Raisbeck Aviation High School, Office Manager
- Nikki Nguyen, Hilltop Elementary, Paraprofessional/Office Assistant
- Kathy Onorati, Pacific Middle School, Dean
- Andrew Ritsema, Marvista, Counselor
- Leah Soenke Ruona, Seahurst Elementary, Paraeducator
- Melanie Terhune, Southern Heights Elementary, Office & Library Assistant
- Karen Thamert, Valley View ELC, Paraeducator
- Karissa Vala, Pacific Middle School, Office Manager
Outstanding Teacher:
- Jeb Binns, Highline High School, Teacher – History/Social Studies
- Catherine Cassidy, Pacific Middle School, Teacher
- Zanovia Clark, Mount View Elementary, Teacher – Grade 2
- Wendy Colmus, Seahurst Elementary, Teacher – Math Instructional Coach
- Nora Duarte, Hilltop Elementary, Teacher – Grade 2/Dual Language
- Amanda Eastgard, Cascade Middle School, Teacher – Grade 8/Language Arts
- Meagan Fleming, Parkside Elementary, Teacher
- Denise Gardner Young, Marvista, 3rd Grade Teacher
- Emily Gunn, Seahurst Elementary, Teacher
- Nicole Jones, McMicken Heights Elementary, Teacher – Grade 2
- Ken Kulk, Pacific Middle School, Teacher – Special Education
- Jonathan McKernan, Hilltop Elementary, Teacher – Grade 4
- Melissa Neely, Cascade Middle School, Teacher – Special Education
- Jordan Reni, White Center Heights Elementary, Teacher – 2nd Grade Dual Language Spanish
- Schell Ross, Pacific Middle School, Teacher
- Leticia Yellam, Hilltop Elementary, Dual Language Facilitator
Outstanding Volunteer:
- Kari Bell, Marvista Elementary
- Beth and Scott Davis, Cascade Middle School
- Tyrone Dunn, Parkside Elementary, Communtiy Volunteer
- Linda Farnsworth, Gregory Heights Elementary
- John Feeney, New Start High School and Cascade Middle School
- Deborah Gardner, Parkside Elementary
- Abigail Hoffman, Parkside Elementary
- Maria Perez, Cedarhurst Elementary
- Long Phan, Evergreen High School
- Maria Santiago, McMicken Heights Elementary
- April Swansiger, Mount Rainier High School and Pacific Middle School, Orchestra Volunteer
- Heather Volkers, Cedarhurst Elementary
Gold Star Awards BASH! is Thursday, Mar. 14
We have many wonderful outstanding employees and volunteers in the Highline Public Schools and The Gold Star Awards BASH is the place to honor and celebrate everyone who was nominated.
The Gold Star Award winners will be announced at the Gold Star Awards BASH! on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at the Beach Park Event Center in Des Moines. Whether you are supporting a specific nominee or just want to be in on the fun and be the first to hear who wins … you don’t want to miss the party!
WHAT: Gold Star Awards BASH!
WHEN: Thursday, March 14, 2019; 6:30 – 8 p.m.
WHERE: The Beach Park Event Center, 22030 Cliff Ave South, Des Moines
TICKETS: www.highlineschoolsfoundation.org