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Highline Schools Foundation announces its 2024 Gold Star Award Nominees
2024-02-24
On Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, the Highline Schools Foundation (HSF) announced its 2024 Gold Star Award nominees.
These are prestigious honors in our school community, recognizing Highline Public Schools’ best and brightest — celebrating Outstanding Teachers, Volunteers, Alumni, Staff and Administrators throughout the district.
“These awards provide us with the opportunity to honor those who have shown exceptional support for students and their education, and those who inspire us,” organizers said.
This year, the foundation received 156 nominations (for 118 individuals) representing 36 schools, programs, and departments across Highline Public Schools. This year’s list of impressive nominees includes well-deserving teachers, staff, administrators, and volunteers nominated by their peers and coworkers, parents, and even students!
HSF will celebrate all nominees and announce the winners at the Gold Star Bash on Wednesday, Mar. 27, 2024 at the SeaTac Community Center, as well as their Gold Star Fundraising Breakfast on Friday, May 3 at Cedarbrook Lodge.
Read on for more details on the Gold Star nominees and events, or visit HSF’s website for more information:
Jacqueline Downey, Teaching, Learning and Leadership
Joe Boyer, Evergreen High School
Juan Lozano, Puget Sound Skills Center
Kevin Takisaki, Innovation Heights Academy
Kimberly Jones, North Hill Elementary
Kimberly Nelson, Valley View Early Learning
Maggie Heater, Marvista Elementary
Phil Willenbrock, Athletics
Victoria Terry, Tyee High School
Outstanding Classified Staff
Amanda Gean, Bow Lake Elementary
Amleset Legesse, P-5 Early Learning and Elementary Success
Audris Pettit, Bow Lake Elementary
Birdie Rocha, McMicken Heights Elementary
Brandi Schnell, Evergreen High School
Brandy Nelli, Gregory Heights Elementary
Charleisha Cox, McMicken Heights Elementary
Christy Birch, Bow Lake Elementary
Deloris McConnell, Bow Lake Elementary
Denise Avitia, Cedarhurst Elementary
Denise Dagley, Bow Lake Elementary
Eduwiges Prieto, Madrona Elementary
Elizabeth Mijal , North Hill Elementary
Fawn Rinker, Midway Elementary
Isabel Leveron, Chinook Middle School
Jaimee Shaug, Tyee High School
Jeri Rickard, North Hill Elementary
Jocee Whisner, Puget Sound Skills Center
Kimiko Lozan, North Hill Elementary
Lisa Lay, Hilltop Elementary
Nicole Arguello, Pacific Middle School
Rebecca Schreiner, McMicken Heights Elementary
Renee Stanton , Bow Lake Elementary
Scott Villa, McMicken Heights Elementary
Sherrie McIntyre, Parkside Elementary
Susan Hope, Evergreen High School
Taresa Herrmann, Puget Sound Skills Center
Teresa Christensen, Parkside Elementary
Outstanding Professional Staff
Alison Hogue, Evergreen High School
Christofer Rothrock, Midway Elementary
Deanne Conrad, Chinook Middle School
Emily Mruk, Pacific Middle School
Isuzu Niizuma, Highline Public Schools
Jenn Truong, Tyee High School
Jill Wilson Zahn, Social Work
Jonas Buck, Pacific Middle School
Lori McEwen, Innovation Heights Academy
L’Shray Jones, Pacific Middle School
Rachel Kerr, Evergreen High School
Rosie Allen-Garibaldi, Tyee High School & Bow Lake
Shauna Pierson, Innovation Heights Academy
Shawna Moore, Puget Sound Skills Center
Outstanding Volunteer
Dan Harrington, Highline Public Schools
Nimat Aljabori , White Center Heights Elementary
Susan Stefanini, McMicken Heights Elementary
Outstanding Rookie Teacher
Ashley La, Mount Rainier High School
Chris Darling, Puget Sound Skills Center
Jessenia Hernandez, Evergreen High School
Kaitlin Beidas, Evergreen High School
Kelly Shilhanek, McMicken Heights Elementary
Kristen O’Conner, Gregory Heights Elementary
Liana Garvett, Bow Lake Elementary
Olivia Pierce-Bluhm, McMicken Heights Elementary
Riley Lindheimer, McMicken Heights Elementary
Stacy Williamson, Shorewood Elementary
Sydney Farrer, Madrona Elementary
Outstanding Teacher
Alicia Elms, Bow Lake Elementary
Amy Razo, Evergreen High School
Angela Madrid-Lara, White Center Heights Elementary
Bethany Tate, Evergreen High School
Catherine Cassidy, Pacific Middle School
Cathy Reinsel Torres, North Hill Elementary
Corey Mikkelson, White Center Heights Elementary
Cristina Velez-Gracia, Bow Lake Elementary
Darrell Chase Jr., Highline High School
Dawn Gardner , Hilltop Elementary
Diana Arenas Castillo, Hazel Valley Elementary
Elba Martin, Hilltop Elementary
Erik Kory, Evergreen High School
Erika Castellon, McMicken Heights Elementary
Erin Enquist, Mount View Elementary
Erin Hocevar-Ortiz, Evergreen High School
Jaymie Torres-Ibarra, McMicken Heights Elementary
Jeni Estrada, Hilltop Elementary
Julie Rice, Marvista Elementary
Justin Deary, Puget Sound Skills Center
Katherine Huh, Midway Elementary
Katie Asare, Puget Sound Skills Center
Katie Reka, Gregory Heights Elementary
Katie Yore (Ashaba), Marvista Elementary
Kimberly Burton, Cedarhurst Elementary
Lisa Penor, Chinook Middle School
Lisa Snyder, Marvista Elementary
Lorena Engle, Pacific Middle School
Lynne Terpenning, Bow Lake Elementary
Mason Costantino,Hilltop Elementary
Meghan Stewart, Cedarhurst Elementary
Mia Mlekarov, Maritime High School
Michael Hecklinger, Madrona Elementary
Mikayla Smith, CHOICE Academy
Mirabella Escobar, Evergreen High School
Mireya Roldan Guzman, Midway Elementary
Naomi True, Evergreen High School
Nicole Leisy, Bow Lake Elementary
Nora Duarte, Hilltop Elementary
Renee Agatsuma, Evergreen High School
Richard Coker, Evergreen High School
Sydney Wagner, Bow Lake Elementary
Timothy Wind, Pacific Middle School
Traci Washington, Big Picture High School
Tristyn Ward, Bow Lake Elementary
Tyler Defrees, Sylvester Middle School
Vaughn Rohrdanz, Seahurt Elementary – Virtual Program
Wennie Hong, Evergreen High School
Yipsi Barallobre, Mount View Elementary
Zachary Hermsen, Evergreen High School
Gold Star Awards BASH!will be Wed., Mar. 27
We have so many wonderful, outstanding employees and volunteers in Highline Public Schools, and we will honor and celebrate all our nominees at the 2024 Gold Star BASH! The Gold Star Award winners will be announced at the BASH on Wednesday, Mar. 27, 2024 at the SeaTac Community Center.
“Whether you are supporting a specific nominee or just want to be in on the fun and the first to hear who wins, join us for the fun!”
BASH Details:
WHEN: Wednesday, Mar. 27, 2024; doors open at 5:30 p.m., program from 6-7 p.m.
WHERE: SeaTac Community Center Banquet Room, 13735 24thAve. SW, SeaTac (map below).
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