Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

 12/09/03

NEWS RELEASE
School Board of Directors Recognize
Denise Bill

At the Monday, December 8 Auburn School Board Meeting, the school directors recognized Denise Bill, coordinator of Native American programs and instruction, for her outstanding contributions as an educator and leader.  It was while attending King’s Garden High School in Seattle that her interest in government was piqued by a week-long field trip to Washington, D.C.  Her first grade teacher gave her many leadership opportunities which supported her young interest in teaching.  Ms. Bill also felt compelled, at a young age, to help her extended family, the Native American people in Washington State.  In 1983, Ms. Bill earned her associate of arts degree at Multnomah School of the Bible; in 1986, her bachelor of arts degree from Seattle Pacific University; and in 1995, her master degree from Azusa Pacific University.  She is currently working on her doctoral degree at the University of Washington with plans to graduate in June, 2004.  Ms. Bill taught school for six years in Apple Valley, California, and for one year in Hesperia, California, before being promoted to assistant principal.  She worked in Lake Washington School District for one year in staff development.  Then came the fulfillment of a lifelong goal--Ms. Bill became the superintendent of the Muckleshoot Tribal School.  "The Tribal School will always be the "heart of who I am," says Ms. Bill.  In 1999, Ms. Bill was employed by Auburn School District as an administrator in staff development and the district’s Native American education program.  Her focus is the development and administrating of programs for the over 600 Native American students in Auburn School District.  "Some of the programs that the Native American education staff and I have had the opportunity to build are:  girls groups, counseling support groups, Culture Night, tutoring programs, the after-school Literacy Program through Project CLIMB, Summer Academy, Generation X performances, First Nations Clubs, and others.  I am thankful for the Native American education staff who work so very hard each day," says Ms. Bill.  Professionally, Ms. Bill hopes to publish her first book on Native American Educational leaders in the next few years.  Dr. Kip Herren, deputy superintendent of school programs, observes about Ms. Bill, "Denise is a dynamic program builder whose efforts have created an array of learning opportunities for Native American students before and after school and throughout the summer.  Her instructional leadership in the curricular arena has produced a fitness-based K-12 physical education program.  She is an unbridled advocate for student learning and works tirelessly to ensure that each student has the opportunity for success."

For more information, contact Superintendent Linda Cowan at (253) 931-4914.