2023 Partners of the Year
Walla Walla School District established the month of May as Partners in Learning Month 13 years ago. This school year the shine is back on our schools following the difficulties of the global pandemic. We have relied heavily on the support of our partners to navigate and support our staff, students and parents to ensure Walla Walla Public Schools students graduate prepared for today’s competitive world, whether college or career bound. It truly does take a village to support our children and affirm the community’s collective expectation for a world-class education for all students. Our partners’ support has helped the district achieve our vision of Developing Washington’s Most Sought After Graduates.
2023 Partners of the Year
The Boeing Company, represented by Tia Rivera
SEATech has been partnering with Boeing since the campus opened in 2014. Over the past nine years, a large number of SEATech students have gone to work for Boeing after graduation. Boeing also offers paid summer internships for several SEATech students annually. Boeing has been instrumental in establishing the COREPlus program at SEATech, which allows students to receive a COREPlus Aerospace certification. Instructor James Polson has attended numerous training opportunities over the years provided by Boeing to ensure the skills he is teaching matches the needs of the field. SEATech is also part of the new Boeing Pre-Employment Training Program to accelerate the hiring process of graduates.
.
City of Walla Walla Parks & Recreation, represented by Andy Coleman
Many of the youth participating in Parks & Recs programs attend Walla Walla Public Schools. Both organizations share the belief it is critical for our children to be active and engaged in positive activities and programs. The Parks and Rec Department also helps educate our students on the importance of trees. Each Arbor Day the city plants a tree on a school campus as part of the annual city Arbor Day Celebration. Students also receive saplings to take home and plant in honor of Arbor Day. The City of Walla Walla's Parks, Recreation and Urban Forestry Advisory Board sponsors the annual tree planting program. This event helps students learn the importance of the city's urban forest and how trees improve our quality of life. Walla Walla Public Schools is also appreciative of the City of Walla Walla Parks & Rec for allowing us to use Veterans Golf course for cross country and golf. Pioneer Middle School uses Pioneer Park for softball and its baseball team plays at Howard Tietan Park. The district also opens its school facilities for City Parks and Rec programs. We work collaboratively to keep our youth healthy and active.
Chevrolet of Walla Walla, represented by Jaime Tiscareno
This spring elementary students across the school district had the opportunity to compete against each other in soccer thanks to a generous donation from Chevrolet of Walla Walla. The local dealership purchased all of the equipment necessary to run the program, including goals, soccer balls and uniforms. More than 200 boys and girls in 4th and 5th grades participated in this free program. The goal of the program is to provide a positive afterschool activity where students can enhance their soccer skills, learn to play as a team and develop good sportsmanship. Jaime said Chevrolet of Walla Walla wanted to have a direct impact on the children of Walla Walla and give back to the community. He said there wasn’t a soccer program in elementary schools when he was a kid and he wanted to make sure today’s students have this opportunity.
JROTC Booster Club represented by President Heidi Kincheloe
The Walla Walla High School Army JROTC Boosters was founded in 2016. A state non-profit entity, the Boosters’ primary objective is to support the Junior ROTC at Wa-Hi. This is accomplished with involvement from parents, veterans organizations, community service organizations, program alumni, administrators, and area supporters working together to inform and educate the public on the rich history, purpose, and program objectives of the high school’s JROTC program. The Boosters secondary mission is to raise funds for improvements and competitive program support that lie beyond the funding structure of the school and U.S. Army Cadet Command. The Booster Club sponsors an annual fundraising dinner for the benefit of cadets currently in the Wa-Hi JROTC program. These funds provide materials and equipment that the school district cannot or does not acquire in support of cadets and their competitive efforts. In the last several years the program has expanded and improved the rifle and drill teams to become nationally competitive. These teams help qualify Cadets for university scholarships and military academic and university ROTC programs. The expenses for these teams are not fully funded by the Walla Walla School District or the Army. The Boosters were created to help close the gap on funding and support the Battalion with its mission.
Photo L-R: School Board President Derek Sarley, Heidi Kincheloe, Tia Rivera, Andy Coleman, Jaime Tiscareno and Superintendent Dr. Wade Smith.