Congratulations to three Olympia School District employees selected to receive this year’s Olympia School District Classified School Employee of the Year award.
The employees learned of the honor during surprise announcements at impromptu morning staff meetings. The news was greeted with applause, standing ovations and hugs.
This year’s honorees are:
Travis King,
paraeducator at Centennial Elementary School. This is King’s fifth year at Centennial Elementary, where he works as a behavior technician.
Denise Pigue,
paraeducator at Garfield Elementary School. Pigue is in her fourth year at Garfield Elementary School, where she works as a behavior technician. She has worked for the district since 2008.
Todd Thornton, head custodian at Roosevelt Elementary School. Todd has worked as head custodian at Roosevelt for four years and for the district since 2006.
All three will be honored at a special recognition ceremony during the December 10,
2018 Olympia School Board meeting. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Knox Administrative Center, 1113 Legion Way S.E., Olympia.
The annual award recognizes employees who consistently demonstrate outstanding work performance, professional leadership
and collaboration.
In September, the Olympia School District opened nominations for Classified School Employee of the Year. The district invited staff, students, parents
and community members to submit nominations.
A screening committee made up of OSD employees and community members reviewed the submissions and recommended the three names to Superintendent Patrick Murphy.
Murphy, Assistant Superintendent Nancy Faaren, School Board President Frank Wilson, Board Vice President Joellen Wilhelm and school leaders announced the winners and presented them with flowers.
Classified School Employee of the Year is an annual statewide awards program through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. It begins with local nominations from school districts throughout Washington. Those individuals have a chance of then being named a regional Classified School Employee of the Year, which allows them to advance to the state competition.
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction recognizes the regional finalists and announces the
state Classified School Employee of the Year at the annual spring award ceremony at the Old Capitol Building in Olympia.
The state award winner and regional finalists are invited to several annual recognition events including the Governor's Reception for Exceptional Educators.