Debbie Leighton, executive director of human resources, has been named the 2012-13 Washington Association of Educational Office Professionals (WAEOP) Educational Administrator of the Year. Deyanna King, office manager of student support services, has been named the 2012-13 WAEOP Educational Office Professional of the Year.
Additionally, another member of the Auburn Association of Educational Office Professionals (AAEOP) received a state award. Debra White, administrative assistant of Student Support Services, received the WAEOP Award for Excellence in Communication of an affiliate newsletter.
The trio will be honored at the WAEOP annual awards and installation banquet in Richland on Saturday.
Elsewhere
The Auburn School District Board of Directors recognized Cassidy Brown, a senior at Auburn Riverside High School, for being an outstanding student on Monday.
A leader in her own right, Brown serves the Raven community with kindness, compassion and joy.
According to Raven Crew advisor Meri Benedict, “Cassidy is genuinely kind and thoughtful to everyone she meets. She is always cheerful and smiling … she has a style that is creative, open, non-threatening and embracing of others.”
Brown’s ability to connect to her peers and articulate messages of acceptance and respect has led her to a unique position on campus.
“Cassidy leads many Riverside assemblies and activities. She is fluid and articulate when speaking in front of large audiences, and she has the ability to evoke emotion and deliver messages that are openly received and embraced,” Benedict said.
Brown is a leader in the classroom and on the track. She holds a 4.0 GPA with AP and honors courses. Additionally, she is a talented cross country and track and field athlete.
She is the ASB vice president and a member of the Raven Crew. She also volunteers as a café worker and youth leader at Northwest Family Church.
After graduation Cassidy hopes to become a missionary or teacher. …
The school district recognized Kathy Garrido, Gildo Rey Elementary School kindergarten teacher, for her outstanding service.
Garrido’s classroom resonates with music and a love of learning. Kindergarteners often recite their ABCs, vocabulary and days of the week in song.
“I hope to teach young children to love learning,” she said. “I use music to engage the students in their learning, both academically and socially.”
For 25 years, Garrido has taught kindergarten at Gildo Rey. And for the past 13 years, Kathy and MJ McDonald, founder of the Puget Sound Musical Theater, have written, produced and directed Gildo Rey’s annual spring musical.
This year’s musical titled, “Love You Forever,” is loosely adapted by the book of the same name. The all-school musical features 40-50 students across grade levels. All students who audition are cast into the musical and rehearse for six weeks after school prior to opening night. Students perform for families during an evening performance and for the student body during a school-wide assembly.
Garrido participates in early learning workshops and summer music courses.
She graduated from UC Davis with a degree in sociology and relocated to Washington state to start a family. After raising three children, Kathy attended Central Washington University and earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a teaching credential.
“Teaching was my calling,” she said.
Kathy’s father, grandmother and grandfather were all teachers. In fact, her grandfather was a superintendent of schools in Nebraska.
Garrido plans to retire after the 2013-14 school year and focus on yoga, gardening and her four grandchildren. She also plans to continue to sing with the Federal Way Chorale. She lives in Auburn with her husband of 40 years.
“I’m proud to have spent my entire teaching career at Gildo Rey, helping our students become lifelong learners,” she said.
