Donaldson earns lifetime award | School briefs

Fred Donaldson, a retired Auburn High School automotive instructor, recently received the Washington Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Lifetime Achievement Award.

August 26, 2015 5:54 pm
Mayor Nancy Backus joins students from the Neighborhood House Tutoring Program in a dance during a Cultural Day event at the Firwood Circle Community Center on Aug
Mayor Nancy Backus joins students from the Neighborhood House Tutoring Program in a dance during a Cultural Day event at the Firwood Circle Community Center on Aug

For the Reporter

Fred Donaldson, a retired Auburn High School automotive instructor, recently received the Washington Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award recognizes Donaldson’s accomplishments and contributions to his profession.

Donaldson, a fixture in the high school automotive program for 31 years, retired in June. A Washington ACTE member since 1984, he was the state’s ACTE Teacher of the Year in 2000.

Donaldson, a 1975 graduate of Green River College’s auto program, worked in the industry, honing his skills and making connections before the Auburn School District hired him in 1984.

At Auburn High, Donaldson developed a state-of-the-art auto facility and maintained a classroom that produced students who were able to meet the demands of the automotive industry.

As an auto instructor, Donaldson led and innovated. He pioneered an email network, Fred Says, that communicated with instructors throughout the region. He arranged hands-on technical trainings and certification opportunities for instructors and students.

Donaldson’s work secured working partnerships with: Honda PACT; Chrysler; Ford; and General Motors. Through these associations, students were able to earn certifications and internships.

Donaldson served as a leader for the Washington Association for Skilled and Technical Sciences, representing the auto cluster. He was recognized as the Washington State Trade and Industry Teacher of the Year in 1990 and received the ASE Master Certification for Auburn’s automotive program in 1996.

Elsewhere

Eleven Auburn schools are strong and green. The King County Solid Waste Division through its Green Schools program recognized the schools for their waste reduction and recycling efforts. The program provides tools and support to expand green practices, involves the school community and operates environmentally-efficient and responsible facilities. The program has four levels of certification, indicating the progress made in conservation efforts. Level 1 focuses on waste reduction and recycling, Level 2 emphasizes energy conservation, Level 3 is water conservation and pollution prevention, and Level 4 rewards sustaining practices.

The following Auburn schools participate in the program: Arthur Jacobsen Elementary (Level 2); Auburn High School (Level 1); Auburn Mountainview High (Level 1); Gildo Rey Elementary (Level 1); Ilalko Elementary (Level 1); Lakeland Hills Elementary (Level 4); Lake View Elementary (Level 1); Lea Hill Elementary (Level 4); Mt. Baker Middle School (Level 1); Olympic Middle School (Level 2); and Washington Elementary (Level 1). …

Auburn’s Jamie Koenig graduated with a degree (bachelor of arts, elementary education, magna cum laude) from Whitworth University. … Auburn’s Brittany App (B.A., American Sign Language studies, cum laude) and Carly Haupt (B.A., interdisciplinary studies) graduated from Western Oregon University.