NCESD Staff Awards Luncheon 2025

Published On: June 16th, 2025|Categories: Agency News, Awards, News|
NCESD Staff Awards Luncheon 2025

Each year, the NCESD takes the time to acknowledge team members who have gone above and beyond to demonstrate what it truly means to lead, serve, and support.

The achievements celebrated during the event are testaments to the skilled and dedicated team at NCESD. It is because of the expertise and hard work of each individual that the organization is able to continue to deliver exceptional service to our region’s students, school staff, districts, and partners. Congratulations to all of the recipients of the 2025 NCESD Staff Awards!

Each description below was submitted by the individual who nominated the award recipient.

Lead Awards

These awards are given to NCESD staff members who inspire a shared vision and direction with a team, demonstrating exceptional communication skills, strategic decision-making, and the ability to foster a high-performing and inclusive culture. They excel in verbal and written expression, listen attentively, and empower team members to achieve significant organizational impact.

Amy Imhoff

School Psychologist

Angela Allred

Business Manager Trainer

Ian Woodford

Managing Director, Statewide Bicycle Ed Program

Janette Morden

MASH Registered Behavioral Technician

“The role of a school psychologist is often misunderstood and under appreciated. There is virtually no one outside of education and few within it that can describe their responsibilities. But when you know, you know! Having a psych with high integrity, knowledge, and professional competence mixed with great bedside manner improves everyone’s experience with the special education process. She leads her special education teams well and we are grateful.”

“Angela is a leader and is very supportive to all of the Business Managers. She stays on top of everything that our regional Business Managers need. With budget cuts and uncertain times within school budgets, she does an excellent job at communication with all. She is a true leader.”

“Ian’s leadership over the past year has made a lasting impact on our team and on the growth of bicycle education across Washington State. As our AESD coordinator, Ian has helped bring five new ESDs into the program. He leads by example, showing up for his team with consistency, care, and clear communication. What sets Ian apart is how deeply he cares about both the program and the people behind it. He’s dependable, knowledgeable, and able to adapt to change with ease, all while staying grounded and supportive.”

“Janette has been a huge asset to our MASH team this year. She is consistently the person our schools are requesting come to walk alongside them in providing services and building their skills. Janette has also shifted the Behavior Interventionist role in MASH statewide and she expands her coaching skills and mentors her job-alikes to do the same. She has expanded our training practices and always shows an exceptional ability to support our students, staff, and families.”

Serve Awards

These awards are given to NCESD staff members who excel in clear facilitation, adapts remarkably, empathizes deeply, and exhibits high cultural competence, fostering inclusivity, respect for diverse perspectives, and collaborative engagement.

Anna Troutman

Assistant Director Special Education / MASH Program Director

Blanca Salgado

Migrant Nurse Case Manager

James Webber

Regional Science Elementary Specialist

Maria Navarrete

Migrant Out of School Youth/Health Coordinator

“Anna truly embodies what it means to serve here at NCESD. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that departments are working together in meaningful, effective ways—all with the goal of better supporting our districts and schools. What makes Anna stand out is her genuine commitment to collaboration. Whether it’s bringing people into the conversation, helping navigate complex challenges, or just making sure everyone feels heard and included, Anna leads with empathy and purpose.”

“Blanca is the perfect example of what it means to serve with heart and purpose. Known as the ‘queen of meaningful connections,’ she builds trust and rapport effortlessly with everyone she meets—students, families, and colleagues alike. Her presence has truly revolutionized how we approach healthcare support within our migrant community. Blanca is not only highly knowledgeable in her field, but she also brings a spirit of collaboration and mentorship to everything she does. She loves sharing her expertise with others and consistently seeks opportunities to enhance nursing and healthcare practices within our team.”

“James has been instrumental in supporting ongoing work with our regional Public Utility Districts that supports science instruction and field activities for students. This year in particular, his creative talents led to the production of easily accessible, ready made teacher materials to prepare for the River of Power events. In addition, James has taken on planning for extending our River of Power experience to the Grant County region. His innovation and hard work led to direct impact for science instruction in our schools.”

“Maria deeply cares about our migrant families and is genuinely invested in the success of every migrant nurse case manager. She is an exceptional communicator who not only shares her vision clearly but also listens attentively to our ideas and concerns. She empowers us to be creative and innovative in how we support our migrant families. Maria has had a significant and lasting impact on our work and the communities/families we serve. She has made new connections with partnering agencies and strives to eliminate barriers and support families and students in our region.”

Support Awards

These awards are given to NCESD staff members who provide assistance, resources, and services that enhance the overall educational experience and outcomes in our regional school districts and beyond. This support can take various forms and may include: professional development, curriculum development, technical assistance, data analysis and assessment, special education services, grant writing and funding assistance, and collaboration and networking.

Ashley Curtin

Secondary Transition Coordinator

Frank Pecka

System Engineer

Hunter McLeod

Threat Assessment Coordinator

Jenny Payne

Loss Control Specialist

Julia O’Donnell

System Engineer

Mary Christle

Accounting Assistant

“Ashley’s commitment to serving our youth has had a profound impact on countless lives. She approaches every challenge with unwavering enthusiasm and a heart full of compassion. Her work is a strong example of effective, community-centered service delivery that prioritizes student access and success in preparing for life after high school. In addition to direct service delivery, she has played a strong role in increasing awareness of DVR and Pre-ETS opportunities. Her efforts have helped reduce participation barriers in some districts and has created smoother pathways for schools to engage in Pre-ETS.”

“Frank exemplifies excellence in every aspect of his role, consistently demonstrating deep technical knowledge, unwavering patience, and a forward-thinking approach to network management. Whether it’s optimizing performance or implementing robust security protocols, Frank’s insight and expertise are invaluable. What truly sets Frank apart is his collaborative spirit. He is always willing to lend a hand, no matter the project or challenge. His approachable demeanor and willingness to support his colleagues make him a trusted and respected member of our team.”

“Hunter goes above and beyond on a daily basis to support the needs of district staff and students across our region! Working in the area of Threat Assessment brings unknown challenges on a daily basis that may need immediate attention. She understands that districts need help in the “here and now” and is always timely in her supportive response. Whether it is technical assistance on a Level 1 threat assessment or a request for an urgent Level 2 process, she remains flexible and is quick to respond. Not only is she responsive and timely in her support, she continues to be extremely proactive in providing training & resources to our region and state.”

“Jenny is knowledgeable about our ergonomic health for sitting at our computers all day. She does walk throughs at our school districts to keep them safe with workers’ compensation. She is very helpful to everyone who asks her questions; she showed our team some stretches to do in our chairs. I don’t think people know the extent of workers’ compensation in our regional districts and I feel she is a big piece of this puzzle.”

“As our Systems Engineer, Julia has been an indispensable force in safeguarding our organization’s digital infrastructure and empowering staff to stay secure in an increasingly complex cybersecurity landscape. Her proactive approach ensures that security is not just a technical requirement, but a seamless part of our daily operations. Julia’s work often happens behind the scenes, but its effects are felt across every department. Her calm, responsive support and forward-thinking solutions make her a cornerstone of our team.”

“Mary is one of those people you know you can always count on. Whether it’s keeping accounts receivable on track or jumping in to help when someone’s out, she brings a level of consistency and care that really helps keep things moving. She’s someone who shares what she knows, helps others without hesitation, and is always looking for ways to make things smoother for the rest of us. Her steady presence, behind-the-scenes support, and willingness to pitch in make a big difference—not just in how our teams function, but in how we show up for the districts we serve.”

Extraordinary Teamwork Awards

These awards recognize NCESD staff members who have worked together to impact the internal processes within the NCESD or the districts we serve.

Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) Family Resource Coordinator Team

This team is responsible for helping each individual family navigate through their journey with Early Intervention services. Whether it’s offering a sympathetic ear to worried parents, carefully coordinating services with caregiver work schedules, or identifying barriers to service and care, they do it ALL. And they do it well.

  • Candie Sanchez
  • Elena Casteneda
  • Jesenia Cifuentes
  • Karina Zendejas
  • Luisa Hernandez
  • Margarita Gonzalez
  • Mayra Mora (not pictured)
  • Oralia Banuelos (not pictured)

Special Education Motor Team

Each member on this team has a dedication level that is inspiring. Because of the distances of the schools that they serve and the need to see as many students as possible, they stay in a hotel one night per week! In addition to that, they message inclusion everywhere they go and are great advocates for all kids.

  • Brian Wilgus
  • Chris Allen
  • Kylie Fordon
  • Mikel Smith
  • Myra Kurtz
  • Sabine Kaul-Connolly
  • Shana Anders

Years of Service Awards

In addition to the awards above, employees celebrating milestone anniversaries at the NCESD were recognized during the event. Congratulations to the following team members who make the NCESD what it is!

5 Year Anniversary

  • Jacob Crouch
  • Louisa Hernandez
  • Natalie Geisler
  • Natalie Kennedy (not pictured)
  • Nora Gonzalez (not pictured)
  • Stacy Kostelnik

10 Year Anniversary

  • Anna Munsey
  • Brian Wilgus
  • Mary Christle

15 Year Anniversary

  • Candie Sanchez
  • Leanne Lafferty
  • Oralia Baneulos (not pictured)
  • Tarin Kendrick

20 Year Anniversary

  • Adam Foged
  • Leigh Allison-Ray

25 Year Anniversary

  • Debby Thompson (not pictured)
  • Leah Harris
  • Shelley Seslar

Retirements

  • Barb Nuxoll
  • Cathy Meuret

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