Classified Employee of the Year

Educational Service District (ESD) 123 is pleased to announce the selection of our 2019 Regional Classified Employee of the Year. Ms. Vickie Rogers, a Health Clinician (school nurse) in Walla Walla Public Schools, manages over 2,000 high school students with complex medical conditions to ensure that they receive the support they need to be successful in school and in life.

The Classified School Employee of the Year program recognizes excellence in the work of public school employees, including paraprofessionals, school nurses, secretaries, custodians and others.  Anyone may nominate a classified public school employee for this award, which is overseen by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).  All completed nominations are sent to the regional coordinator at each ESD, who in turn selects a regional winner.  Ms. Rogers is one of nine regional winners who will go on to compete for the State Classified Employee of the Year award.

Each recommendation letter supporting Ms. Rogers’ nomination for Classified Employee of the Year speaks to her ability to build strong, positive relationships with students, parents, staff and local community partners.  Prior to her role in WWPS, Ms. Rogers served 18 years in Women’s Services at a hospital.  During that time, she worked with many teenage girls, providing child development education, parenting classes, nutrition, and other mentoring roles.

In speaking to her decision to begin working as a health clinician for WWPS, Ms. Rogers stated, “I decided it was a great opportunity to combine my nursing skills and my passion to help young people understand how decisions they make regarding their health can impact their daily lives, ability to function at school and be successful at school.”  She goes on to say, “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a young person’s brain click when they realize, ‘Oh yeah, this is a better choice!’”

ESD 123 is proud to bring forward Vickie Rogers to represent our region for this year’s awards.  She is a truly caring and compassionate professional who embodies the role of what the State Classified Employee of the Year should be.  

Press Release - Courtesy of ESD 123