Local Residents Receive State Recognition

A local student and a school volunteer have received awards and recognition by the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), an organization formed to promote leadership in communities, provide legislative support for education, and assist in the development of excellence in both student learning and opportunities for leaders (wasa-oly.org).

WASA presents annual, statewide awards to those who show excellence in certain categories, two of which have been given to local recipients. The first honor is the Community Leadership Award which was given to Elissa Dyson, of the Onion Creek School District.

“The award is a nice recognition for those who exhibit leadership in the community,” Dyson said. “I have served as Onion Creek School District board chair for more than 20 years. I assist with facilities and transportation, have facilitated the successful coordination with other districts, and I have a long history of service.” In addition to serving on the board, Dyson has worked with the students to publish a newsletter, participated in summer programs, and has had a hand in educational activities.

Dyson started her long career of volunteering with Onion Creek in 1985, after her family relocated from Seattle. “During my entire service, I have never been a paid staff member,” Dyson said. “I’ve always volunteered my time.”

She added that, “This award is special to me because between 1998 and 2018, I was the chair of WASA’s partner organization, the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA). Every school district in the state of Washington is a member and participates in legislation and lobbying.” Dyson said she is proud to have visited every school in Washington with fewer than 2,000 students. “It took me 12 years to visit more than 200 schools,” she said.

Dyson’s award comes with her decision to retire from service. “I actually made the decision in 2021 that I would not run for reelection in 2025,” she said. “I’m almost 78 years old. It’s time for me to have a little more freedom to travel and do other things. It will be hard, though. I’ve done this longer than I’ve done anything in my life.”

Some of the best aspects of Dyson’s time with the Onion Creek School District, she said, was because of the people. “There are a lot of really great people involved in public education. I appreciate getting to know wonderful people, administrators, students, and teachers. There have been so many rich experiences.”

But the last few years have been very challenging, according to Dyson. “It seemed like the first 35 years I was on the school board, everyone was unified in terms of goals and beliefs. And then, once we got into the pandemic, things fractured. Politics came into play. All of a sudden there was a rift. Politics has no place in education.”

Dyson continued, “One thing I learned is how important schools are in the life of small communities. I plan on continuing my involvement with the district. I will still work with students on the newsletter and stay involved with what’s going on.”

Kaylin Gines of Mary Walker High School in Springdale was given the WASA  Student Leadership Award. This award recognizes outstanding student leaders who exhibit a leadership role in their school and promote social justice in their community. “I was nominated by the superintendent, because I do a lot of leadership,” said Gines. She is involved in a peer mentorship program, participates in public speaking and community service, and is a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). “I also participate in the Tree of Sharing, which is a charity that helps people in need during the holidays.” Gines is also on her school’s volleyball team and trains her horse outside of school, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

“I really like being busy,” she said. “That’s how to make school more enjoyable. It means a lot to be able to mentor eighth graders as they prepare for high school. And since I love volleyball, I help out with that, coaching little kids. I’m actually being recruited by colleges for volleyball.”

Gines added, “There aren’t a lot of negatives to the things I do, but sometimes it can be a lot to handle.”

For more information about WASA, visit their website, wasa-oly.org.