Staff Achievement Grant Program
About the Staff Achievement Grant program
The Walla Walla School District Staff Achievement Grant program is designed to recognize individual staff members who exemplify standards of excellence. Each year, up to five staff members (certificated and classified) shall be recognized as a part of the grant program. This grant shall include up to five days of professional leave and up to $1,500 for use in an approved growth activity of the recipient’s choice. An employee may be awarded only one achievement grant.
ABOUT THE GRANTS
Growth Activities
The recipient may choose an approved growth activity such as:
• Attending a national conference
• Attending a special workshop or seminar
• Visitation to a specific program or activity
NOTE: Grants are awarded in June and must be used before the end of the following school year.
Selection Process
A committee of former recipients will evaluate nominations and letters of support and make the grant award selections. Committee members each read all the nominations and rate them on a numerical scale. The results are entered into a database and tallied. Those five nominations which have received the highest scores are selected as Staff Achievement Grant Award Winners. This is a peer nominated, peer selected award.
(PLEASE NOTE: All nomination applications will be considered for two school years. Nomination packets submitted last year but that did not receive grants, will be considered this school year.)
Criteria for selection may include one or more of the following:
• Exemplary leadership
• Innovation
• Outstanding performance
• Exceptional service or contributions to the Walla Walla School District
• Excellence in Instruction
• Unusual dedication
Nomination Process
Candidates may personally make application or be nominated by their colleagues. Letters of support may be submitted by supervisors, students, and parents. Each nomination form shall be submitted with NO MORE THAN THREE LETTERS OF SUPPORT. These should be type-written and limited to a single page. The nomination forms shall be submitted to the Communications Office in the administration building. All grants will be awarded during the end of the school year celebration.
2025-2026 Staff Achievement Grant Nomination Form
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS IS MAY 8, 2026.
• Call Mark Higgins at 509-525-6716 or Email if you have any questions
Past Recipients
Walla Walla Public Schools proudly recognizes the following staff members for exemplifying superior standards of excellence. This peer nominated, peer selected award is judged on exemplary leadership, innovation, and exceptional service.
2024-2025
- Beth Clearman – Garrison Middle School
- Britt Adkins – Facilities Support
- Denise Parodi – Berney Elementary
- Jamie Kemano – Walla Walla High School
- Shelly Robertson – Lincoln High School
2023-2024
- Patrick McFetridge – Edison Elementary School
- Gloria Olivos – Green Park Elementary School
- Kristin Hessler – Walla Walla High School
- Cory Fish – Technology Department
- Stacy Morrison – Berney Elementary School
2022-2023
- Shannon Hand - Berney Elementary School
- Tara Jasper - Elementary Library Technician
- Mary Burt - Walla Walla Online
- Yaneth Hernandez - Garrison Middle School
- Kim Cassetto - Walla Walla High School
2021-2022
- Clayton Hudiburg – Walla Walla High School
- Jennifer Matson - Teaching & Learning
- Melissa Bates - Green Park Elementary School
- Shari Strickland - Human Resources
- Peggy Payne - Walla Walla High School
2020-2021
- Juan Faba – Green Park Elementary School
- Conor Fish - Garrison Middle School
- Lisa Cox - Walla Walla High School
- Brad Hobbs - Green Park Elementary School
- Grace Ogoshi - Walla Walla Online
2019-2020
- Chris Ferenz - Walla Walla High School
- Armida Contreras - Garrison Middle School
- Liza Jacobson - Prospect Point Elementary
- John Golden - Walla Walla High School
- Marybeth Norby - Green Park Elementary School
2018-2019
- Anne Bickelhaupt - Walla Walla High School
- Gracie Cortez - Blue Ridge Elementary
- John Kiefel - Sharpstein Elementary
- Refugio Reyes - Walla Walla High School
- Sara Strickland - Pioneer Middle School
2017-2018
- Kelsey Dill - Walla Walla High School
- Pam Jacobson - Walla Walla High School
- Monica Nelson - Walla Walla High School
- Claudia Saldivar - Sharpstein Elementary
- Sue Schulz - Garrison Middle School
2016-2017
- Amy Hartford - Green Park Elementary
- Jerry Poirier - Support Services
- Bryan Eggart - Blue Ridge Elementary
- Arturo Alonso - Walla Walla High School
- Tina Holbrook - Green Park Elementary
2015-2016
- Michelle Higgins - Walla Walla High School
- Brent Bieloh - Pioneer Middle School
- Shannon Ahrens - Garrison Middle School
- Connie Goude - Prospect Point Elementary
- Loretta Wright - Green Park Elementary
2014-2015
- Vivian Glaeser - Walla Walla High School
- Tom Porter - Opportunity Program
- Karen Bumgarner - Pioneer Middle School
- Barbara Thatcher - Green Park Elementary
- Lisa Davis - Berney Elementary
2013-2014
- Tressa Baker - Green Park
- Milissa Gierman - Berney
- Elizabeth Jagelski - Berney
- Peder Fretheim - WWHS
- Donna McCaw - Green Park
2012-2013
- Susie Golden - Business Office
- Cindy Nass - Special Education
- Jo Anna Gogl - Edison Elementary
- Julia Woods – Walla Walla High School
- Brenda Crumpacker - Green Park Elementary
2011-2012
- Maria Garcia - Coordinator
- Shane Jacobson - Technology Department
- Christine Ludwig - Propect Point Elementary School
- Carina Stillman – Walla Walla High School
2010-2011
- Veronica Esparza - Personnel Department
- Casey Monahan - Walla Walla High School
- Lori Parnicky - Sharpstein Elementary
- Kay Schisler - Curriculum Department
- Jesse Torres - Green Park
2009-2010
- Daneitta Mertens - Edison Elementary
- Brenda Prins - Prospect Point Elementary
- Louise Johnson - Edison Elementary
- Kelly Gabel - Print Shop
- Erik Gordon - Lincoln Alternative High School
2008-2009
- Sue Parrish - Garrison Middle School
- Mel Gribnau - Green Park Elementary
- Tanya Hoffman - Walla Walla High School
- Meg Cochran - Blue Ridge Elementary
- Rob Ahrens - Walla Walla High School
2007-2008
- Shannon Jones - Pioneer Middle School
- Lucy Gregoire - Blue Ridge Elementary School
- Mike Gobel - Walla Walla High School
- Margi Ault - Personnel Department
- Elissa Stites - Green Park Elementary
2006-2007
- Mike Dill - Pioneer Middle School
- Sherry McConn - Walla Walla High School
- Jean Tobin - Green Park Elementary School
- Nancy Anhorn - Edison Elementary School
- Elaine Bluhm - Business Office
2005-2006
- Arlene Moreno - Edison Elementary
- Norb Rossi - Walla Walla High School
- Kathy Lamb - Pioneer Middle School
- Judy Peasley - Special Programs
- Doug Venneri - Pioneer Middle School
2004-2005
- Missy Johnson - Green Park Elementary
- Dawn Jepson – Pioneer Middle School
- Kate Venneri - Sharpstein Elementary
- Yvon Barber - Pioneer Middle School
- Peggy Willcuts - Paine
2003-2004
- Gail Danielson - Blue Ridge Elementary
- Leslie Hanson-Anderson – Edison Elementary
- Tracy Williams - District Office
- Georgie Germain – Edison Elementary
- Heidy Wiese - Blue Ridge Elementary
2002-2003
- Sue Westergard - Green Park Elementary
- Janifer Sams - Blue Ridge Elementary
- Kathy Keatts – Walla Walla High School
- Gina Cox - Prospect Point Elementary
- Paul Wickline – Walla Walla High School
2001-2002
- Diane Briggs - Garrison Middle School
- Dennis Bennett - Pioneer Middle School
- Sue Bloom - Walla Walla High School
- Shirley Rodenberg - Blue Ridge Elementary
- John Herr - Walla Walla High School
2000-2001
- Dave Larson – Pioneer Middle School
- Lynn Waldron – Walla Walla High School
- Gayle Harwood - Green Park Elementary
- Kris Takemura - Preschool
- Gail Serven – Edison Elementary
1999-2000
- Leonard Adams - Transportation
- Gail Callahan - Blue Ridge Elementary
- Darlene Greenwood - Blue Ridge Elementary
- Bill Gilbert – Pioneer Middle School
- Cheryl Herr – Pioneer Middle School
- Greg Reid – Garrison Middle School
1998-1999
- Lenore Zaro - District Office
- Jackie George – Sharpstein Elementary
- Sue Hansen - Blue Ridge Elementary
- Alison Peck – Opportunity Program
- Mira Gobel – Pioneer Middle School
1997-1998
- Shelly Froese – Pioneer Middle School
- Barbara Daniel – Green Park Elementary
- Suzanne Sams – Opportunity Program
- Kay Barga – Edison Elementary
- Dennis DeBroeck – Walla Walla High School
1996-1997
- Charlene Kaaen – Edison Elementary
- Laurie Cochran – Health Services
- Evelyn Dutton – Prospect Point Elementary
- John Darnell – Paine
- Leslie Stockton – Walla Walla High School
1995-1996
- Judi Kessler – Garrison Middle School
- Betty Schubert – Special Programs
- Terri Gilbert – Sharpstein Elementary
- Gary Peasley – Walla Walla High School
- Justine Taylor – Berney Elementary
1994-1995
- Johnnie Dennis – Walla Walla High School
- Ron Higgins – Walla Walla High School
- Loretta Barum – Green Park Elementary
- Gayle See – Walla Walla High School
- Kay McCauley – Walla Walla High School
1993-1994
- Tensie Lovejoy – Paine
- Karen Hermeston – Walla Walla High School
- Joan McPherson – Berney Elementary
- Leah Crudup – Blue Ridge Elementary
- Dale Steindorf – Walla Walla High School
1992-1993
- Margo McClellen – Curriculum Department
- Al Sievertsen – Walla Walla High School
- Jan Heimbigner – Prospect Point Elementary
- Pat Decker – Walla Walla High School
- Brenda Ramirez – Berney Elementary
1991-1992
- Steve Olsen – Plant Facilities
- Dolores Clark – Walla Walla High School
- Paul Dennis – Walla Walla High School
- Irene Maxon – Walla Walla High School
- Karen Reid – Garrison Middle School
1990-1991
- Mike Martin – Walla Walla High School
- Barbara Bledsoe – Pioneer Middle School
- Clark Erdman – Walla Walla High School
- Betsy Adkins – Berney Elementary
1989-1990
- Connie Taylor-Randall – District Athletics
- Glenda Robertson – Sharpstein Elementary
- Scott Tibbling – Walla Walla High School
- Sharon Delaney – Berney Elementary
- Karen Fuller – Sharpstein Elementary
1988-1989
- Judy Anderson – Pioneer Middle School
- Pat Grant – Berney Elementary
- Sharon Ford – Blue Ridge Elementary
- Bill McCorkle – Walla Walla High School
- Gretchen Anthony – Green Park Elementary
1987-1988
- Jill Taruscio – Pioneer Middle School
- Mac Bledsoe – Walla Walla High School
- Dorothy Deeney – Berney Elementary
- Ellie Heiser – Business Office
- Nancy McCorkle – Prospect Point Elementary