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Teachers and Classified Staff of the Year
DeDe Garcia, Elementary School Teacher of the Year
The Auburn School District Board of Directors recognizes DeDe Garcia, Washington Elementary School teacher, as Elementary Teacher of the Year.
DeDe has spent her entire 30 year teaching career at Washington. She is a primary teacher and has spent the last 19 years teaching kindergarten.
Principal Gelinda Williams describes DeDe as an influential teacher leader who exemplifies the belief that all students achieve high standards of learning and develop responsible behavior.
She said Dede understands the delicate balance of love, structure and high expectations. She describes her as the consummate educator who is reflective, compassionate, caring and an advocate of high standards for all young learners. Students love her because she is genuine, kind and cares about them.
DeDe grew up in Iowa and earned her bachelor’s from Northern Iowa University. She also earned her National Board Certification in 2017 and recertified this year.
She is a leader on her grade level team and has led her team through curriculum pilots and adoptions.She relentlessly advocates for a team approach in supporting student academic and social emotional needs. Dede improves the teaching profession through her leadership and collaboration with colleagues, mentorship of new teachers and her work at the district level as a member of the ELA adoption team. She also serves as a member of the building leadership team.
DeDe values the community and gives back. She has supervised several students in the Community Lab Program at Auburn High School and serves on Washington’s Holiday Giving Tree Committee, where 40 families were served this year. She also created and directed the annual kindergarten end of year Big Show music performance.
DeDe loves teaching at Washington and treasures the relationships she has built with longtime Washington families. She lives in Enumclaw and has an adult son. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and reading.
Glenn Jenkins, Elementary School Teacher of the Year
The Auburn School District Board of Directors recognizes Glenn Jenkins, Dick Scobee Elementary School teacher, as Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Glenn Jenkins is in his eleventh year teaching at Dick Scobee where he teaches fourth and fifth grade students. He loves the space theme and incorporates it into learning with his students.
He earned a master’s curriculum and instruction with a S.T.E.A.M concentration from Concordia University, a master’s in teacher leadership from Seattle Pacific University and his undergraduate in elementary education from Heritage University.
Glenn brings a wide variety of experiences to his teaching. He served in the U.S. Army under General Colin Powell, was a telecommunications engineer for 20 years and was a freelance newspaper writer.
After the birth of his son, he decided to become a teacher. As an African American male, he wanted to become a role model to help African American boys have a teacher who looks like them. He loves using his diverse knowledge to teach the diverse students at Dick Scobee.
In his nomination, colleagues said, “Mr. Jenkins brings his entire self to the classroom and his students are better for it. He is a warm demander of the children and adults he works with, always holding high expectations.”
In addition to his strong teaching, Glenn serves in many other capacities to advance education. He is active as a leader in the Washington Education Association where he serves as a board director, co-chair of the human and civil rights committee, on the budget and finance committee, legislative strategies committee and is vice-chair of the WEA black caucus.
He is active in Grow Your Own recruiting diverse educators, has testified in the State Senate and House on bills affecting education, taught classes at TechConnect and is a leader in culturally responsive practices.
Glenn grew up in Detroit. He lives in Parkland with his wife of 16 years, Francine. They have two sons and two daughters. In his spare time, he spends time with his family. He recently built a chemistry lab for his son and does plant biology with his daughter.
Casey Killett, Middle School Teacher of the Year
The Auburn School District Board of Directors recognizes Casey Killett, Cascade Middle School teacher, as the Middle School Teacher of the Year.
Casey began her teaching career as a substitute in 2003 and has been teaching full-time at Cascade since 2007. She has taught a variety of subjects including math, science, math intervention, leadership, environmental science and biology.
She graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s in zoology and history. She worked at the Alaska Sealife Center; Port Townsend Marine Science Center and volunteered at the Seattle Aquarium before deciding she wanted to become a teacher. She earned her master’s in teaching from City University. She also is a National Board Certified Teacher in early adolescence science.
Once becoming a teacher, she has never looked back.
She said, “I love Cascade. For 15 years I’ve been going from home to my other home. I have never thought of this as a job. I love the staff, I love the kids, and I love all of the hard work we all do to set high expectations for the kids.”
She has earned the respect of her colleagues who say she seems to have a hand in everything and is super involved. She pours her energy not only into providing quality instruction but into the environment and culture of the school. She makes a concerted effort to get all kids involved, whether in the classroom or outside through clubs and activities.
Casey is the co-advisor for ASB, provides professional development to colleagues, is on the science curriculum committee and recently served as a supervising teacher.
She grew up in SeaTac and lives with her husband of 15 years, Jim, in West Seattle. Their son Aidan is a sixth grader at Cascade.
In her off-time Casey and her family love to travel, hike and find great food trucks and restaurants. They also spend time with their dog Luey.
Jason Capps, High School Teacher of the Year
The Auburn School District Board of Directors recognizes Jason Capps, Auburn High School teacher, as the High School Teacher of the Year.
Jason has spent his entire 24 year teaching career as a math teacher at Auburn High.
Principal Jeff Gardner said Jason’s teaching philosophy is a working model for Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset. Jason has success with students who have developed a fixed mindset that they are just not good at math. Through student relationships, partnering with parents and lots of time and effort, Jason has amazing success with ninth graders in the Students Preparing for Educational Achievement & Responsibilities or (SPEAR) program. This program supports some of the lowest math performing students.
This year Jason’s algebra students have shown one to five years of algebraic skills growth in half a year. This is only one indicator of success but when kids see this type of growth, their academic trajectory changes for the better.
Jason also serves the math department’s chair. With his work with Visible Learning and being the math leader for this year’s pilot of PLC +, he and his department are growing their collective skills. He also has been instrumental in hiring the right math teachers over the last five years. He leads a high functioning department and no matter the years of experience, every math team member knows they have the opportunity to share and learn with their colleagues
In addition to his amazing math leadership, Jason serves as the Troy Crew leader and puts in many hours training upperclassmen to help onboard and lead new freshmen into Auburn High culture each year.
Jason earned his bachelor’s from Washington State University and his master’s from the University of Washington.
He grew up in Sumner and lives there with his wife Taryn. They have 2 adult daughters and a 10 year old son.
In his spare time, Jason truly loves to do yard work. He also enjoys golf, hiking, camping and boating.
Deane Davis, Classified Support Employee of the Year
The Auburn School District Board of Directors recognizes Deane Davies as the Classified Support Employee of the Year.
Deane has spent his entire career, 45 years, as a bus driver for the Auburn School District. He attended Lea Hill Elementary, Cascade Junior High and Auburn High School. He began driving right out of high school, spending one year as a substitute and then driving routes ever since.
Deane loves his job and said, “No two days are the same. It is always a challenge and you can never be bored.”
His love for his job and of the students he serves is evident to everyone around him. Numerous people submitted his name for consideration for this award. Deane is number one on the bus driver seniority list.
As a reflection of his status in the transportation department, he drives bus #1. He garners the respect and admiration of his students, their families, his peers, staff and administration because of his kind and caring manner towards everyone.
For many years, Deane has transported students with disabilities. His vast experience and confidence behind the wheel promote a successful relationship with all of his passengers, especially those who need additional care and compassion.
Dennis Grad, executive director of transportation said, “Deane is truly a gem and an icon of Auburn.”
He said Deane always has the best interest of students, the department and the district in the forefront. He is an asset to the Auburn School District, the department and the greater community. Everyone who knows him genuinely appreciates his dedication.
Deane has represented the department and school district at events and services throughout his career as he has a vast historical background. He is well-respected by former and current colleagues and is the go-to person for everyone in transportation. He takes local history seriously and is one of the most revered volunteers at the White River Valley Museum.
Deane has developed great relationships with teachers, staff and his students and he keeps in contact with many of them. His free time is spent contacting his friends via Facebook and keeping in contact via cards and letters.
Ivonne Cabrera Flores, Elementary Classified Employee of the Year
The ASD Board of Directors recognizes Ivonne Cabrera Flores as the Elementary Classified Employee of the Year.
Ivonne is a paraeducator in the Gildo Rey Elementary library. She started her career in Auburn as a member of the paraeducator pool in 2013 and has been in her current role since 2015.
She loves helping the students and lets them know they can always count on her.
In nominating Ivonne, teacher-librarian Shawn Welsh said she is “exceptional and essential”. She is very knowledgeable about books, authors, computers, software, subject matter and keeps the library in pristine condition. She knows the name of almost every student in the building.
He said, “She is the best kind of support I could ask for, allowing me to teach while she organizes the seating charts, sets the lab and helps me maintain the books and library collection.”
Though she loves her current position, she hopes to have a different job next year. She earned her associate’s degree at Green River College and then finished her bachelor’s in education through Central Washington University. She is applying for teaching jobs for next year and hopes to land a job teaching primary next year.
Because she has her teaching certificate, she has filled in as a substitute teacher numerous times this year at her home school, Gildo Rey.
Ivonne was born in Mexico City and is bilingual in Spanish and English. She is looking forward to teaching and plans to advocate for and support students in every way possible.
She lives in Algona and has two children. Her daughter graduated from Auburn Riverside and her son attends Mt. Baker Middle School. She teaches Zumba at the YMCA in Sumner. She and her kids have a tradition to go to Cancun every summer and explore new places during each visit. They also explore other states in her native Mexico.
Jamie Harres, Secondary Classified Employee of the Year
The Auburn School District Board of Directors recognizes Jamie Harres as the Secondary Classified Employee of the Year.
Jamie is the youth development specialist at Cascade Middle School. In this role, she takes on a myriad of responsibilities that includes daily student supervision, leading a student leadership group, hosting after-school Homework Club, Anime Club and Social Justice Club, doing home visits, serving as the campus wellness expert and other duties that support and build relationships with students and families.
In her fourth year in the ASD, Jamie loves creating valuable relationships with students. “I love supporting them in ways that I can’t in a classroom, it brings me a lot of joy.”
Jamie has been a champion for numerous students and works as a bridge between teachers and students/families. Her office offers a safe and welcoming place for students who need to de-escalate, work in an alternate environment or just need a snack or a pep talk.
According to Cascade Dean of Students Christian Miller, “Jamie truly has the ability to do it all. She has earned the respect of our staff with her huge heart, follow-up, results and hard work. We are so fortunate to have such a selfless and caring leader at our campus that can do so many different things and do them well. ”
In December, Jamie will graduate from Thomas Edison State University with a bachelor’s in liberal studies.
Prior to working in Auburn, Jamie spent 10 years in a variety of roles in the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District. She grew up in Washington and graduated from Kent schools. She lives in Bonney Lake with her husband Jayson and their two dogs. They have two adult children.
When not at work, she enjoys going on weekend adventures, shopping and eating out, hanging out with friends and watching the Seahawks.