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Maryan is a passionate advocate for students and families, with over a decade of experience breaking down barriers for those experiencing homelessness, foster care, or economic hardship. Her journey in education began with Catholic Community Services, supporting homeless youth and families. When the opportunity arose to work in the school system, she knew she had found her true calling¡ªensuring students have the resources they need to succeed.

In her current role, Maryan connects families with essential services such as housing, food, and clothing, allowing students to focus on their education. She works closely with secondary students, promoting post-secondary opportunities and helping them transition beyond high school. As a mentor, she supports youth from diverse cultural backgrounds, helping them navigate the challenges of balancing their heritage with life in the U.S.

Maryan has built strong partnerships with organizations like SchoolHouse Washington, the Road Map Project for Family Engagement, and Building Changes. She has trained school districts on McKinney-Vento data practices and the importance of community collaboration.

Beyond schools, Maryan serves as a Commissioner for the City of Tukwila's Equity and Social Justice Commission, advocating for policies that promote equity and inclusion. As a former refugee, she values representation in education, knowing the impact of students seeing educators who reflect their backgrounds. 

She also leads the School District Parent Advisory Committee and founded the district's Annual Resource Fair, which connects families with critical support. She has helped secure McKinney-Vento program funding through local Nonprofit agency partnerships, fostering a collaborative environment where families feel empowered.

Maryan is grateful to pursue her passion daily, working to create a more inclusive, supportive community where all students and families can thrive.

Lori is a learner at heart. After leaving the retail buying field, Lori started volunteering in her son's preschool classroom. What quickly became a career of assisting students with developmental and behavioral needs led to a life of growing and learning right alongside her students.

Lori will not let limitations get in her way. She quickly taught a physically challenged student to write and type with their feet simply because it was best for the student. Putting students' needs first has always been her motto.

Lori has worked one-on-one with students, to carrying her own case load of students as an Advisor/Mentor. She puts it all into building a trusting relationship with each student. Lori is currently working with hyperlocal community members to connect her students and their families to the resources and supports that they need to be successful in developing self-confidence. Along with that focus, Lori is creating a program called Create What's Next, providing her students with the chance to explore through experiences and opportunities outside of the school building.

Lori is also currently spearheading a Wellness program with a CoLab of seven other Wellness ZONES in Washington state. Students in this credit-achieving program use their voices to express what they feel are disparities not only in their wellness, but their families, neighborhoods, and their communities. Lori loves being a member of the Outdoor Education committee, overseeing various schoolwide events, developing curriculum, and getting students outdoors. To Lori, this is not a job, but a passion.
 

Angelica is a dedicated paraprofessional who has always had a passion for working with children and being part of a team. Coming from a family with members who have disabilities, she was drawn to the structure and support that a school environment provides, knowing firsthand the importance of creating a nurturing and inclusive space for students with special needs.

In her role, Angelica assists with both supervision and instruction, helping students develop independence in essential life skills such as feeding, toilet training, and dressing. She also supports teachers by tracking data, implementing individualized strategies, and ensuring that each child receives the care and attention they need to thrive. Whether changing a student, guiding them through a lesson, or simply offering comfort, she prioritizes making every child feel loved and supported, recognizing that school may be the safest and most structured part of their day.

Her dedication to her students has been recognized in profound ways, including receiving a Life Saver Award for preventing a choking incident with one of her students. Angelica has become a valued team member of the 21st Century After School Program, where she has conducted an additional 2 hours a day for 4 days out of the week, after regular school hours, for the past 5 years amounting to about 2,000 extra hours put into supporting, educating, and caring for her students. This continues work has caused a positive impact on her students lives. Beyond the classroom, she continually seeks to improve her skills, motivated by the knowledge that her students depend on her each day. She finds deep fulfillment in watching them grow, gain independence, and succeed in ways that once seemed impossible. Through her compassionate approach and unwavering commitment, Angelica is making a lasting impact on the students, families, and team she works with.

Paul Richie is a dedicated and highly skilled Facilities and Operations Supervisor for Kelso School District, where he leads with integrity, vision, and a strong commitment to educational excellence. A Kelso High School graduate of the Class of 2000, Paul went on to study Liberal Arts at Oregon State University before beginning a successful career in the skilled trades.

In 2006, Paul began an apprenticeship with Local 26 Steamfitters Association, graduating in 2009. Over the next 16 years, he worked on large-scale industrial projects across the Pacific Northwest, advancing to foreman and project superintendent roles where he managed complex operations with precision and leadership.

Returning to serve his home community, Paul now oversees the daily operations of maintenance, custodial services, and capital improvements for Kelso School District. He manages a team of 55 employees and handles over 3,500 work orders annually, ensuring that facilities are safe, functional, and conducive to learning. Paul also plays a key role in managing $180 million in bond-funded construction projects, demonstrating strategic planning and fiscal responsibility.

Paul's extensive industry experience, combined with his passion for public service, makes him a vital asset to the district. His leadership fosters a collaborative and efficient work environment where staff feel valued and students benefit from well-maintained, innovative learning spaces.

His nomination for the ½ñÈÕ¿´ÁÏ Classified School Employee of the Year reflects not only his technical expertise but also his unwavering dedication to the success and well-being of the Kelso School District community.
 

Andi Bloomfield ¨C Experienced Educator & Youth Mentor

With over four decades of experience working with children, Andi Bloomfield has dedicated her career to fostering meaningful connections with students. Her deep-seated ability to relate to kids at their level has shaped her approach to education, leadership, and mentorship.

Andi has taken on various management roles to enhance her skills as both an employee and a leader. While working at Hood Canal School, she pursued higher education, ultimately earning her Master's in Science. Passionate about experiential learning, she thrives on sharing knowledge in engaging and interactive ways.

Believing in open communication, Andi creates a safe and judgment-free environment where children feel heard and respected. She approaches challenging behaviors with calm, constructive techniques that help students navigate their emotions effectively.

A dedicated coach, Andi has led multiple sports teams, including drill team, track, volleyball, and basketball for both boys and girls. She was also a founding member of the BOOTS program at Hood Canal School and has been instrumental in its success for over 20 years. Through BOOTS, she has led numerous outdoor wilderness expeditions for eighth-grade students, focusing on team building and leadership development.

As an experiential education facilitator, Andi is committed to building strong, supportive relationships with her students while maintaining a professional and encouraging presence. Her passion for guiding young minds through education, athletics, and outdoor experiences continues to inspire those around her.

Olivia's start in education was unexpected. After graduation from Connell High School, Olivia went to Gonzaga University where she spent her Junior year abroad in Florence, Italy and earned a BA in Public Relations with minors in Advertising and Italian Studies. She came back after graduation to help work harvest at the family dryland wheat farm and consider options. Within 6 months Olivia found herself working as a bookkeeper/office manager for a large potato farm, working for her family dryland wheat farm, teaching high school students at church, and coaching cheerleaders for Connell High School.

Fast forward 15 years, marriage, 2 children, and several years of tumultuous farming ventures, Olivia found the wisdom and support to help provide stability for her family by going back to NFSD for employment. Starting out as part time at Connell High School with the WSU sponsored GEAR UP lab and substitute paraeducator, she became a full time paraeducator for the preschool before transitioning to Connell Elementary as a Reading Interventions Paraeducator.

For the past 8 years, Olivia has assisted other paras with questions, curriculum, and anything else that may come up. Her farming work ethic inspires her to go above and beyond every single day. She works under pressure and performs effectively showing she is stable in all she does, however, she prefers to work behind the scenes without recognition.

Olivia, also, has a passion for school safety. She has taken it upon herself to organize and maintain the radio communications for the school and works tirelessly towards maintaining consistent playground expectations. Olivia also does whatever is necessary to help all students with math. Before school, during school, lunch dates, afterschool, and whenever they need math tutoring. All students are welcome, all they need to do is ask.

Robin has always worked hard and valued her family. Learning much of what she needed to know on the job, she first began in schools as a parent volunteer. This grew into a trip chaperone, varsity-level score keeper, bookkeeper of the local booster club, and feeding students at special events and county fairs. In addition to these volunteer commitments, Robin maintained a steady work schedule, as well as bookkeeping and other projects for her family's varied businesses.

When the head cook position suddenly became available, district teachers and principals sought Robin out as an applicant, saying she should come and feed their students. 11 years later, Robin loves her job. Most rewarding is coming up with new ideas and recipes to try, within budgetary guidelines and following state rules for utilizing commodities.

While known for the fresh salad bar and scratch cooking implemented during her tenure, Robin is most proud that all of her children received a quality education: one works as a financial advisor, one is in their 10th year teaching college-level English to high school students, and the third is in charge of maintenance and grounds for a school district. Outside of the cafeteria, Robin and her family have always maintained a farm that helps students across two school districts: they allow 4-H students and FFA members to raise animals on their land, who otherwise would not have the opportunity.

Robin is a role model for all who know her. Her genuine love and joy for the students, her work ethic, and her willingness to go above and beyond endear her to everyone she encounters.

Jim and his wife decided to move their family from Texas to Burlington over 20 years ago. Their eldest child was about to start high school, making it an opportune time to uproot the family. Jim was ready to "retire" from the oil business and pursue his true passion for computers and information technology. Having worked in Alaska, California, and Texas, they were ready to settle in an area they loved.

In 2005, Jim joined the technology department at Burlington-Edison. Initially, he was assigned the role of a Tech Specialist, which required him to visit individual school campuses to deploy, troubleshoot, and repair classroom technology. With his engineering background and proficiency with computer hardware and software, Jim was able to use his experience in database management led him to move into the Data Systems Manager position, managing the Skyward Student Information System.

During that time, Jim worked with a programmer and a teacher on special assignment to develop the Student Online Assessment Report (SOAR), an online repository of local and state assessment data, which several districts adopted. Jim realized that this was a project that could have a positive impact on teachers and students so he continued to support SOAR and then recreating the assessment data system, generating data dashboards for administrators and teachers. Jim also maintained the District Website, overseeing three migrations to new content management systems. This enabled Jim to access his creative side in helping improve district communication to the community. Over his 20 years at B-E he not only supported tech but also managed communication tools, served as technical director for the theater arts team, and developed digital applications to support and train staff and students, significantly expanding the district's technology scope.