Washoe News

Washoe County School District issued the following announcement on November 15.

The Nevada Association of School Boards (NASB) has bestowed three prestigious awards on staff members and partners of the Washoe County School District (WCSD). WCSD Chief Operating Officer Pete Etchart, Roy Gomm Elementary School teacher Marcell Boyer, and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada received the awards at a ceremony over the weekend.

Chief Operating Officer Pete Etchart received the District Level Administrator Impacting Student Achievement Award for his work in overseeing Facilities Management, Nutrition Services, and Transportation for the District’s 62,000 students.

In nominating Etchart for the award, WCSD Board President Dr. Angie Taylor noted that he “spearheaded myriad operational adjustments to provide resources and services throughout the District” in the early days of the COVID pandemic, further citing Etchart’s “keen ability to collaborate and work with internal and external stakeholders [to enable] the efficient and timely execution of many projects.”

Etchart also played a pivotal role in organizing the clinics that provided COVID vaccines to thousands of District staff members. She wrote of his “unwavering dedication and drive to do what is best for our students each and every day.”

“I am honored to receive this award, especially in being nominated by the Superintendent and Leadership Team that I am so blessed to work with,” said Etchart, who has worked for WCSD since 2013. “This award is really a reflection of the incredible work that the Operations Team and our entire District team has been able to accomplish especially during this pandemic. It is an absolute privilege to work with this incredibly dedicated team at WCSD who is so focused on the education and advancement of our youth.”

Veteran teacher Marcell Boyer was awarded the Innovative Educator of the Year Award. Boyer has taught for WCSD since 1995, and currently teaches second grade at Roy Gomm Elementary School. She serves on the staff leadership team and in the lead role in her grade level Professional Learning Community (PLC).

In submitting her nomination of Boyer for this recognition, President Dr. Taylor wrote: “Providing support for all students comes naturally to Mrs. Boyer as she brings in students for 1:1 work before school and at recesses. She also actively teaches throughout the day: she is either beside a student’s desk or working with a small group all day… She provides suggestions and support for how to help struggling students succeed. These suggestions were carried into the second-grade classrooms with great results. Her ultimate goal is providing resources that support student academic success.”

“I appreciate being recognized for my work and am honored to win this award from the Nevada Association of School Boards,” said Boyer. “I work with many dedicated teachers who are deserving of this award and would like to recognize the contributions of colleagues over the years who’ve contributed to the way I think about teaching.”

NASB awarded the Food Bank of Northern Nevada (FBNN) the recognition for Individual Friend of K-12 Public Instruction. FBNN has worked in partnership with WCSD for many years, helping to support students and families with vital food resources throughout the year.

President Dr. Taylor wrote: “In the earliest days of the COVID pandemic, FBNN staff made a lifesaving difference for our students and families, working closely with the District to distribute meals at schools for families, many of whom were suddenly experiencing unemployment and looming homelessness. Thanks to FBNN, they were able to travel short distances to pick up tasty, nutritious meals for their children. They have advocated for children across Washoe County, masterfully navigating the local, state, and federal systems to locate and secure support for our children and families. FBNN staff members are passionate about their mission to provide basic food resources to children and families in need in our community, and never has their commitment been more needed and welcomed than during the past year. By the end of the calendar year 2020, they had helped distribute more than 500,000 meals to our children.”

“One of our biggest priorities is making sure that our children have the food they need to stay healthy and ready to learn,” said Nicole Lamboley, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. “Our partnership with the Washoe County School District at all levels make this work possible. We are honored by this recognition but acknowledge that it takes the whole community working together to make it a reality.”

Established in 1963, the Nevada Association of School Boards is dedicated to strengthening public schools through local citizen control. All 17 school districts in Nevada are members of the association, giving a common voice for public education.

Original source can be found here.