School Board of the Year!

Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors named state’s School Board of the Year

Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors were surprised during the October 18 school board meeting with an unscheduled announcement they received the Washington State School Directors Association Board of the Year award for medium-sized school districts. WSSDA's Tricia Lubach, Director of Leadership Development, popped up on a Zoom screen during the meeting to deliver the good news. Lubach first informed board members they were one of only 17 medium-sized districts, out of 74 in the state, to earn a 2022 Board of Distinction honor. This is the fifth time in school district history Walla Walla has received this state recognition.

The biggest surprise came when Lubach announced that WWPS was not only a Board of Distinction, but the state's School Board of the Year for all medium-sized districts. This is the first time since 2001 the board has earned this prestigious honor.

“It is such an honor to have our hard work recognized at the state level,” said School Board President Ruth Ladderud. “This acknowledgment highlights ways we have successfully worked to close the achievement gap and communicate openly and transparently. We are all the more motivated to further support the success of all students and to improve communication and involvement with our students and their parents.”

According to Lubach, "This is always the most competitive category, and Walla Walla rose to the top from 17 Boards of Distinction for this honor." She commended the district's transparent operations. This included their successful bond program that delivered on its promises. Additionally, she lauded the board's leadership throughout the pandemic and their academic recovery response. She also noted the commendable support plans the Board developed for students and families, and their continued work to close the opportunity gap for students.

WSSDA’s Boards of Distinction program sets a high bar for district school boards. Recipients must demonstrate clear data and connections between positive outcomes and decisions or actions taken. Additionally, board’s must demonstrate how their actions closed opportunity gaps and exemplified Washington School Board Standards.

Walla Walla Public Schools’ Board of Directors will be formally recognized at the WSSDA Annual Conference in November and their stories are shared via WSSDA’s website and in feature articles in Direct, WSSDA’s quarterly newsmagazine.

WWPS Board of Directors photo L-R: Eric Rindal, Kathy Mulkerin, Derek Sarley, Ruth Ladderud and Terri Trick.