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

3/21/07

NEWS RELEASE
Mia Hedrick Receives Auburn School Board of Directors'
Gold Star Volunteer Award

The Auburn School District Board of Directors will present the Gold Star Volunteer Award to Mia Hedrick, in recognition of her volunteer support at Pioneer Elementary School, on Monday, March 26, at 7 p.m. in the board room at the James P. Fugate Administration Building.

Mia Hedrick isn’t kidding when she describes herself as a busybody. “I don’t like sitting waiting for something to happen, so I make things happen,” says Mia. After Mia’s youngest of four headed off to Pioneer, she made a decision to go back to school. “I’ve always been interested in law, but law school was out of the question with four kids,” remarks Mia. Instead, Mia enrolled in the forensic science program, with a focus in fingerprinting, at Green River Community College. She plans to graduate in the spring of 2008 with an Associates of Science degree. “Eventually I’d like to work in a lab, perhaps for the city or police department.”

Despite her bustling family life and college studies, Mia dedicates nearly four hours every day of the school week to Pioneer Elementary School, which she has been doing for the past two and a half years. Mia volunteers in Mrs. Hughes’s first and second grade literacy class, providing a helpful hand wherever she is needed. “Whatever the teacher has going on is what I help her with. I may run off papers, or I will help with the students,” says Mia. Mia assists Mrs. Hughes with six different classes who rotate in and out of the literacy class. She primarily helps first graders learn their letters and write sentences, while she guides second graders to write paragraphs and develop storylines.

Mia especially enjoys the one-on-one time with the students. She specifically recalls helping a third grader last year who was not meeting grade level expectations in math. After working with the student for 45 minutes every school day, the student tested at grade level at the end of the year.

During recess Mia is typically reading with students, while in between classes she is often in the main office helping out as needed. According to Pioneer Principal Debra Gary, “Mia is very reliable and always willing to take on any task that is asked of her, whether it is helping a student or making costumes. She even asks for work to take home to help teachers out. She is a real asset to Pioneer and always makes things happen.

Mia recently made all of the fifth graders costumes for their production of Richard Wagner’s opera, The Rhinegold, which was part of Pioneer’s participation in the Seattle Opera Young Artists Program. Mia enjoys these creative tasks and is glad to be keeping busy. “I think I’m fortunate,” Mia remarks. “Many parents don’t have the time to volunteer or be near their kids as much and still get everything done.”

Mia is an exceptional volunteer. The Auburn School District and Pioneer Elementary School are fortunate to have her as part of the team.

For more information contact Amy Spence, public information officer, at (253) 931-4713.