Gold Star Awards

The Gold Star Awards are prestigious honors in our school community, recognizing Highline Public Schools best and brightest — celebrating the outstanding Teachers, Volunteers, Alumni, Staff and Administrators throughout the district. These awards provide our community the opportunity to honor those who have shown outstanding support of students and their education, and those inspire us. Anyone can nominate a Gold Star, we rely on our community and Highline Schools staff to put forward their nominees for these awards.

2024 Gold Star Award Nominees

The Gold Star Awards 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. This year, we 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! See below for the full list of Gold Star Nominees!

Gold Star Bash!

We will celebrate all our nominees and announce the winners of the Gold Star Awards at the BASH on Wednesday, March 27th 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: 
Date:  Wednesday, March 27th, 2024 
Time:  doors open at 5:30pm, program from 6-7pm 
Location: SeaTac Community Center Banquet Room, 13735 24th Ave. SW, SeaTac 
TICKETS: $25 each, and includes one drink ticket, appetizers, and dessert. Purchase tickets via the button below!

Please note: Due to venue restrictions, tickets will not be available at the door, so preregistration is necessary.  Guests must be 21 or older.

And the Gold Star Nominees Are...

Outstanding Administrator

Christina Fritch, Assistant Principal – White Center Heights Elementary 
Corbin Busby, Principal –  Hilltop Elementary 
Jacqueline Downey, Instructional Leadership Executive Director – Teaching, Learning and Leadership
Joe Boyer, Assistant Principal – Evergreen High School 
Juan Lozano, Principal – Puget Sound Skills Center
Kevin Takisaki, Principal -Innovation Heights Academy Principal
Kimberly Jones, Principal –  North Hill Elementary
Kimberly Nelson, Principal – Valley View Early Learning 
Maggie Heater, Principal – Marvista Elementary 
Phil Willenbrock, Director of Athletics – Highline Public Schools Athletics 
Victoria Terry, Principal – Tyee High School 

Outstanding Classified Staff 

Amanda Gean, Paraeducator – Bow Lake Elementary
Amleset Legesse, Early Learning Liaison – P-5 Early Learning and Elementary Success 
Audris Pettit, ILC Paraeducator – Bow Lake Elementary 
Birdie Rocha, Family Engagement Liaison/Bilingual Paraeducator – McMicken Heights Elementary
Brandi Schnell, EBC Paraeducator – Evergreen High School
Brandy Nelli, Special Education Paraeducator – Gregory Heights Elementary 
Charleisha Cox, Office Manager – McMicken Heights Elementary  
Christy Birch, Paraeducator – Bow Lake Elementary
Denise Avitia, Bilingual Paraeducator – Cedarhurst Elementary 
Denise Dagley, Office Manager – Bow Lake Elementary 
Eduwiges Prieto, Office Manager – Madrona Elementary 
Elizabeth Mijal, ILC Paraeducator – North Hill Elementary 
Fawn Rinker, Office Manager – Midway Elementary 
Isabel Leveron, Custodian – Chinook Middle School 
Jaimee Shaug, Attendance Specialist – Tyee High School 
Jeri Rickard, Librarian Assistant – North Hill Elementary
Jocee Whisner, Finance Tech – Puget Sound Skills Center 
Kimiko Lozan, Paraeducator – North Hill Elementary 
Lisa Lay, Office Manager – Hilltop Elementary 
Nicole Arguello, Attendance Specialist – Pacific Middle School 
Rebecca Schreiner, Office Assistant – McMicken Heights Elementary 
Renee Stanton, Registrar – Bow Lake Elementary 
Scott Villa, Bilingual Paraeducator – McMicken Heights Elementary 
Sherrie McIntyre, Paraeducator – Parkside Elementary 
Susan Hope, Office Manager – Evergreen High School 
Taresa Herrmann, Office Assistant – Puget Sound Skills Center 
Teresa Christensen, Paraeducator – Parkside Elementary 

Outstanding Professional Staff

Alison Hogue, Academic Success Dean – Evergreen High School
Christofer Rothrock, Student Success Coach – Midway Elementary
Deanne Conrad, Counselor –  Chinook Middle School
Emily Mruk, Re-engagement Specialist – Pacific Middle School
Jenn Truong, Counselor – Tyee High School School
Jill Wilson Zahn, School Social Worker – Social Work
Jonas Buck, 7th Grade Counselor – Pacific Middle School
Lori McEwen, Dean of Students and Admin Intern – Innovation Heights Academy
L’Shray Jones, Counselor – Pacific Middle School
Rachel Kerr, Counselor – Evergreen High School School
Rosie Allen-Garibaldi, School Social Worker – Social Work
Shauna Pierson, Counselor – Innovation Heights Academy 
Shawna Moore, Dean – 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, Music Director – Mount Rainier High School
Chris Darling, Auto Body Teacher – Puget Sound Skills Center 
Jessenia Hernandez, DL Culinary Teacher – Evergreen High School 
Kaitlin Beidas, Social Studies Teacher – Evergreen High School
Kelly Shilhanek, 3rd Grade Teacher – McMicken Heights Elementary 
Kristen O’Conner, Special Education Teacher – Gregory Heights Elementary
Liana Garvett, ILC Teacher – Bow Lake Elementary
Nicole Leisy, 2nd Grade Teacher – Bow Lake Elementary 
Olivia Pierce-Bluhm, 3rd Grade Teacher – McMicken Heights Elementary 
Riley Lindheimer, Long Term Substitute – McMicken Heights Elementary
Stacy Williamson, ILC Teacher – Shorewood Elementary
Sydney Farrer, IAC Special Education Teacher – Madrona Elementary 

Outstanding Teacher

Alicia Elms, Teacher – Bow Lake Elementary 
Amy Razo, English Teacher – Evergreen High School 
Angela Madrid-Lara, Dual Language Kindergarten Teacher – Spanish – White Center Heights Elementary
Bethany Tate, Teacher – Evergreen High School 
Catherine Cassidy, ELA Teacher – Pacific Middle School 
Cathy Reinsel Torres, ILC Teacher – North Hill Elementary 
Corey Mikkelson, Music Teacher – White Center Heights Elementary 
Cristina Velez-Gracia, 5th Grade Teacher – Bow Lake Elementary
Darrell Chase Jr., CTE Teacher- STEM, Construction and Wood Technology – Highline High School 
Dawn Gardner, Developmental Pre-Kindergarten Teacher – Hilltop Elementary 
Diana Arenas Castillo, 1st Grade Teacher – Hazel Valley Elementary 
Elba Martin, Developmental Pre-Kindergarten Teacher – Hilltop Elementary 
Erik Kory, Special Education Teacher – Evergreen High School
Erika Castellon, 1st Grade Teacher – McMicken Heights Elementary
Erin Enquist, 4th Grade Dual Language Teacher – Mount View Elementary 
Erin Hocevar-Ortiz, Dance & PE Teacher – Evergreen High School 
Jaymie Torres-Ibarra, Special Education Teacher – McMicken Heights Elementary 
Jeni Estrada, 1st Grade Teacher – Hilltop Elementary 
Julie Rice, 3rd Grade Teacher – Marvista Elementary 
Justin Deary, Construction Teacher – Puget Sound Skills Center 
Katherine Huh, Kindergarten Teacher – Midway Elementary
Katie Asare, Academic Coach/Teacher – Puget Sound Skills Center 
Katie Reka, 5th Grade Teacher – Gregory Heights Elementary 
Katie Yore, 2nd Grade Teacher – Marvista Elementary 
Kimberly Burton, Kindergarten Teacher – Cedarhurst Elementary 
Lisa Penor, Teacher – Chinook Middle School 
Lisa Snyder, Teacher – Marvista Elementary 
Lorena Engle, Teacher/ML & DL Coordinator – Pacific Middle School 
Lynne Terpenning, ELL Interventionist – Bow Lake Elementary 
Mason Costantino, Teacher – Hilltop Elementary
Meghan Stewart, Teacher – Cedarhurst Elementary 
Mia Mlekarov, Teacher – Maritime High School 
Michael Hecklinger, Teacher Librarian – Madrona Elementary 
Mikayla Smith, Teacher – CHOICE Academy 
Mirabella Escobar, DL Marketing Teacher – Evergreen High School 
Mireya Roldan Guzman, Teacher – Midway Elementary 
Naomi True, Teacher – Evergreen High School 
Nicole Leisy, 2nd Grade Teacher/Admin designee – Bow Lake Elementary 
Nora Duarte, 2nd Grade Dual Language Teacher – Hilltop Elementary 
Renee Agatsuma, Teacher – Evergreen High School
Richard Coker, Teacher – Evergreen High School
Sydney Wagner, Kindergarten – Bow Lake Elementary
Timothy Wind, Art Teacher – Pacific Middle School 
Traci Washington, Teacher – Big Picture High School 
Tristyn Ward, Special Education/DHH Teacher – Bow Lake Elementary 
Tyler Defrees, Social Studies Teacher – Sylvester Middle School
Vaughn Rohrdanz, Teacher – Seahurt Elementary – Virtual 
Wennie Hong Evergreen, Language Arts Teacher – High School 
Yipsi Barallobre, Teacher -Mount View Elementary 
Zachary Hermsen, PE Teacher – Evergreen High School

Thank You to our Gold Star Awards Sponsors

HPS Superintendent’s Cabinet
Joe Van
Lavish Roots
Reliant Group/Ducky’s Office Furniture
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