WSD Weekly

March 13, 2026

📅 Upcoming Calendar Events:

March 20 - Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences ( No School)

April 6-10 - Spring Break (No School)
May 1 - Non-Contract Day (No School)
View the student academic calendar

Teaching is hard. Teaching at the highest level is harder. National Board Certification is the profession's most respected credential — a rigorous, multi-year process that pushes educators to examine, document, and demonstrate their practice at a level far beyond what any standard license requires. Less than 4% of teachers nationwide hold it. In the Wenatchee School District, approximately 20% of teachers hold National Board Certification.

The district has a long-standing reputation for high certification rates and was officially recognized by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as a National Board Accomplished District.

At Tuesday's school board meeting, Director of Learning and Teaching Amber Birks recognized Shawna Gardner, Ann Young, Tamara Honeycutt, and Michael Lasater for achieving National Board Certification — joining an elite group of educators who have voluntarily held their practice up to the highest standard in the profession.

National Board Certification isn't handed out. It's earned through deep reflection, rigorous evidence, and a commitment to continuous growth that doesn't stop when the school day ends. For students, it means learning from teachers who don't just meet the bar — they set it.

Wenatchee School District is proud of these four educators and grateful for the standard they set for our students, our schools, and our whole community.

This week 45 community members gathered at Wenatchee High School for something worth paying attention to: the first meeting of the WHS Design Advisory Committee.

"The response from our community was remarkable — 87 individuals applied to serve on the Design Advisory Committee, and we were only able to accept 45. That level of interest reflects exactly the kind of community investment this project deserves." said Superintendent Kory Kalahar.

Parents, educators, business leaders, and community members came together to begin the important work of envisioning what a future WHS building could look like — and what it should do for the students and community it serves. Working alongside Integrus Architecture, one of the Pacific Northwest's most experienced educational design firms, the committee is laying the groundwork for a facility plan that reflects Wenatchee's values, needs, and vision.

Why Now?

Starting the design process before a bond measure goes to voters isn't getting ahead of ourselves — it's being responsible. Doing this work now means our community has a genuine say in the vision before decisions are made, cost estimates are grounded in real plans rather than assumptions, and if voters choose to move forward with a bond measure, Wenatchee is ready to act without delay.

Good planning is how we honor the trust this community places in us. Every voice in that room reflected that commitment.

Your Turn to Weigh In

The Design Advisory Committee is just the beginning. WSD is committed to making this a community-wide conversation — and that means creating real opportunities for parents and community members to see, respond to, and shape what's being designed.

In April we will be hosting building tours, public open houses, and structured feedback sessions where your input will directly influence the direction of the design work. Whether you have five minutes or five ideas, there will be a place for you in this process.

Mission View Elementary has a new reason to celebrate — and her name is Elena Gomez Alvarez.

Elena, a fifth grader in Mrs. Phelps' homeroom class and the daughter of Edgar and Eva Gomez, has been selected to serve on the 2026 Apple Blossom Festival Junior Royalty Court as Queen Elena. It's an honor that places her among a proud and storied tradition — and makes her a part of Wenatchee history.

The last Mission View student to serve on the Junior Royalty Court was Princess Miranda Dyal in 2007. Before that, Queen Justine Vanderpool represented the school in 2001 — and went on to be crowned Apple Blossom Festival Queen during her senior year in 2008, a full-circle moment that speaks to the lasting significance of this experience.

Nearly two decades later, Mission View has its queen again.

Wenatchee School District couldn't be prouder of Elena and the poise, character, and spirit she brings to this role. We know she will represent her school, her family, and her community with pride.

Wenatchee's After School Program (ASP) STEAM Nights brought together 10 local partners — from the Wenatchee River Institute and Chelan PUD to the US Forest Service and local artist Martha Flores — for two evenings of hands-on learning with nearly 200 students and families.

Mobile planetariums. Live fish. Telescopes. Sugar experiments. Giant paintings. And a whole lot of curious kids and families discovering what Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math can look like in the real world. This is the second year the ASP planned STEAM nights and is already working on next years events. Thank you to every partner who made it happen, it takes all of us working together to make learning happen.