District 81 Nets Five Top Education Awards Three Teachers, An Administrator, Board Honored For Excellence In Education

Spokane School District 81 is ending the school year with several reasons to celebrate.

Three of its teachers, an administrator and the District 81 board of directors have been named recipients of the Washington Award for Excellence in Education - 2000.

“It’s reflective, I think, of our excellent staff and our commitment to education,” said Cynthia Lambarth, District 81’s associate superintendent of educational services. “One of the things about all of these award winners is how they have dedicated their lives to education and to students.”

The Spokane school board is the only board in the state to receive the honor this year. Don Howell, director of the Spokane Skills Center, is among five administrators who received the award.

Meanwhile, teachers Nancy Cole Hough of Ferris High School, Linda Lee of Holmes Elementary and Jacqueline Lake of Shadle Park High School are among the 46 teachers statewide who won the award.

They were honored last week by Gov. Gary Locke and state schools Superintendent Terry Bergeson during a ceremony in Olympia. District 81 officials also paid tribute to the educators and the board at a special reception Friday.

“It has truly been my pleasure to work with a board that is there for one reason - kids,” Superintendent Gary Livingston said.

Livingston credited the board for crafting District 81’s strategic plan, which has included developing a world-class technology infrastructure.

“It has really positioned us to be a premiere district in the state,” he said.

Board President Don Barlow, however, gave the credit back to the district.

“The award really goes to the district,” he said. “Without the staff doing their job, we couldn’t do ours.”

The other board members are Robert Fukai, Terrie Beaudreau, Christie Querna and Rocco Treppiedi.

Howell was recognized for leading by example.

“He knows that today’s leadership requires long hours and a `let’s roll up our sleeves and get it done’ attitude, and he is always the first to offer his time and energy to a project,” Larry Parsons, District 81’s northeast area director, wrote in his nominating letter.

Lake, who teaches English, drew praise from Principal Emmett Arndt, “She is an incredibly effective leader, instructor and human being,” he said. “She is so genuine in terms of how she works with staff and students to achieve higher learning. Without her, we wouldn’t have made all the improvements we’ve made at Shadle.”

Lee teaches a mix of kindergarten and first-grade students. “For many years, Linda Lee has positively influenced the lives of students and inspired educators,” Holmes Principal Denise Sandbo wrote in her nominating letter. “The breadth of her dedication and contribution towards the improvement of teaching is immeasurable.”

Hough teaches student leadership and French and Spanish.

“Ms. Hough epitomizes professional, intellectual and personal integrity in all of her interactions with our young people of today,” Ferris Principal Jonathan Bentz wrote in his letter. “She is truly an individual of uncommon dignity and honor in every one of her deeds and thoughts.”

West Valley City School employee Marcy Hoggatt of the West Valley School District also is an award recipient.

The Excellence in Education awards program was enacted by the 1986 Legislature to recognize educators for their leadership, contributions and commitment to education.