Congratulations to Amy Long and Jairus Torres, two elementary school paraeducators named as this year’s Olympia School District Classified School Employees of the Year.
The employees learned of the honor during surprise announcements at impromptu after-school staff meetings. The news, shared by Superintendent Patrick Murphy, was greeted with applause, standing ovations and hugs. Board President Darcy Huffman also presented each of the honorees with flowers.
This year’s honorees are:
- Jairus Torres, paraeducator at LP Brown Elementary School. Torres has worked for the Olympia School District since December 2018.
- Amy Long, paraeducator at McLane Elementary School. Long has worked for the district since September 2016.
Torres and Long will be honored at a school board recognition ceremony on January 11, 2024. The recognition, which occurs before the start of the regularly scheduled board meeting, begins at 6:10 p.m. at the Knox Administrative Center, 111 Bethel St. N.E. in Olympia.
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 annual award recognizes employees who have made a positive difference in their profession. A screening committee made up of OSD employees reviewed the nominations before selecting the honorees.
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction recognizes the regional finalists and announces the state Classified School Employee of the Year at an annual spring award ceremony.