Congratulations to our Nominees and Award Winners!
/Congratulations to our PTA Award Nominees and Winners. We have many amazing people at Sacajawea, we truly appreciate all of you!
Our Golden Acorn Awards recognize exemplary and outstanding volunteerism and service to our PTA, school, and community.
Robin King (Adri & Mieke’s Mom) –Robin has led the Parent Equity team this year, meeting the challenge with innovative, intentional thinking that matches her investment in forwarding racial equity. She spearheaded the Heritage Potluck which was a festive, fun heartwarming event!
Many people stated how much they appreciated this gathering. Robin’s spirit and commitment to equity are integral to her tremendous contributions to our school community. She’s a great collaborator and fun to work with.
She has worked continuously to form connections between families to strengthen and build our school community, as well as find ways to keep everyone engaged and excited.
Jessi Friedrichs (Jack’s Mom) – Jessi has pretty much single-handedly taken on all the fundraising events at Sac this year. She did an awesome job on the Move-a-thon and the Auction and Community dinner was fantastic because of her. She brought new ideas and activities to both events and no doubt spent countless hours planning, collecting, calling and organizing. Her cheerful attitude and friendly demeanor make it easy and fun to work with her! She's also taken on the huge role of Treasurer for our PTA. Total rock star!
Karen Murphy (Leonie’s Mom) – So many of you recognized Karen’s hard work over some very challenging pandemic and post pandemic years. As PTA Co-chair, her leadership has been essential to advancing the PTA’s mission of supporting the education, community, and health of the students and families of Sacajawea. Karen is also Sac’s Family Support Coordinator and strong advocate for our students with the Packs for Kids Program, community partnerships and seeking out resources. She and her husband, Chad have been the driving force behind the Arts and Culture Committee for many years – helping to create the amazing student auction artwork every year and continental focus t-shirts. Karen has been a Room Parent, set-up and cleans up at every event, chaperones field trips and helps in the classroom. She is passionate about inclusivity and is always thinking about more equitable ways to improve our school and PTA.
Our Outstanding Educator Award recognizes a member of the staff who has made exceptional contributions at Sacajawea to enhance the educational outcomes of our students.
Ryan Schmidt — Best Art Teacher Ever! Every kid at this school loves Mr. Ryan! Here are just a few nice things said about him in the nominations:
He is kind and funny!
He makes sure that all the kids have a place that they belong.
The art work for the auction was so cool.
I love the work he puts up in the halls and the towns and villages. It brightens our school!
Art has been such a wonderful outlet for my child this year. Mr Ryan is such an awesome teacher of art techniques and options that help kids learn while also being free to express themselves. We're very lucky to have such a dedicated, kind and patient teacher. I wish any of my art teachers growing up were like him... maybe then I'd be able to draw! 😆
The Roy Norman SHINE Award is given in honor of Ms. Norman’s (our Admin Secretary of many years) late husband. Roy was an amazing man who fully embodied the SHINE principles at Sacajawea of being Safe, Helpful, Inclusive, Neighborly, and Engaged!
Congratulations to our three fantastic SHINE winners.
Karla Sclater (Zack’s Mom) – 6 years at Sac - Karla has been such an important part of our PTA for the last several years. It's hard to imagine Sacajawea without her. Karla was a critical part of our BLT - serving well beyond the two year term! She is our PTA secretary, is a parent rep on many hiring committees, volunteers in the classroom, shows up for lunch and recess support and has always been willing to lend a hand when needed. She was the driving force behind our Arts Festival before the pandemic and led the Arts and Science Fest this year. Her commitment to the PTA equity team, safe roads to school, grants team, Packs for Kids and the new fund sharing alliance have made Sacajawea a better place and reflect her unwavering personal dedication to social justice and equity.
Erica Cox – Fifth Grade Teacher – As a first year classroom teacher, Ms. Cox jumped into a huge class of fifth graders - with thirty-four individual personalities - and she did it with so much love, wisdom and grace. She has been an awesome role model for the students in her class, teaching them empathy, how to support one another and build confidence as well as holding them to high academic expectations. She has worked hard to be a mentor and guide and has taken very seriously her role in preparing her students for the challenges of middle school. Erica’s dedication to Sacajawea is impressive - she was the only Sacajawea staff chaperone at IslandWood this year; she shows up to all our PTA events and even went to Renton on an early weekend morning to support our Girls on the Run team; she is also an active member of our staff Racial Equity team. Her good humor and joy are a welcome addition to our community and we are grateful. Erica, You rock!
Laura Riley (Kate’s Mom) – 9 years at Sac - Between Joey and Kate, The Rileys have been at Sacajawea for nine years and from day one, Laura has “shown up” with an unstoppable energy and enthusiasm! She has been a driving force in the PTA and has volunteered countless hours over the years. She has organized the Move-a-thon and Book Fair, streamlined PTA membership, coordinated the Directory, been a sought after Room Parent, served on the executive board as both PTA co-chair and Treasurer, chaperoned field trips, helped at lunch, volunteered in the classroom and pitched in at every event. Laura is the go to person when you need an answer, she is welcoming to new families and old friends alike, she is a caring and passionate advocate for our kids and she exemplifies community.
One nomination says it perfectly…”Laura is a natural leader that the community and parents respect, appreciate, and will miss after this year.”