Governor’s whirlwind visit leaves WHS teacher with award
March 13, 2015
Students in Wenatchee High School teacher Doug Merrill’s classroom got quite a surprise during this morning’s third period — the entire entourage of Gov. Jay Inslee’s staff, Wenatchee School Board members, and administrators from throughout Wenatchee School District, parading into the room on a tight schedule with a specific purpose.
Inslee visited WHS today for an overview of the Career and Technical Education program, because WHS is one of five Washington schools that’s part of a pilot grant, Career Readiness for a Working Washington, said Dennis Conger, Wenatchee School District Director of Career and Technical Education.
Merrill was awarded with the governor’s “Washingtonian of the Day” award — an honor given by Inslee each and every day in Washington state to inspirational people.
Wenatchee High School students are quizzed by Gov. Jay Inslee about science and their future aspirations.
“When I got that award, I totally thought of Russell Wilson thanking all of his teammates,” Merrill said, because it was a complete “team effort,” he said, since teachers from Kelso and White Salmon came to help with the project Merrill’s class showed Inslee.
The project? Building skis, which were designed on computer-automated design software, using fiberglass cloth and resin. Inslee assisted students with the process for about 10 minutes this morning.
Conger, along with Wenatchee Learns Coordinator Diana Haglund, and SkillSource Learning Center Manager Susan Adams, told Inslee about the programs currently happening in Wenatchee – specifically, the Wenatchee Learns Connect Center, which opened last summer in downtown Wenatchee.
“We’re committed — we’ve made a strong commitment to personalized learning with Wenatchee Learns,” Superintendent Brian Flones told Inslee. Wenatchee Learns focuses on building partnerships with parents and businesses, Haglund said. She provided examples of Career Cruising and the first-ever College and Career Expo held in 2014.
The governor also visited science teacher Beth Hammerberg’s classroom, where she presented to students about deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
“Geez, I wasn’t nervous until all [of] you got here,” Hammerberg said, as the entourage of about 20 gathered in and outside of her classroom.
Inslee interacted with students following Hammerberg’s presentation, and recommended they read the book “Eating the Sun,” about photosynthesis.
Students were drawing pictures of the mitochondria while Inslee quizzed Hammerberg on science curriculum and student participation. “That looks perfect,” Inslee told a very surprised sophomore Carmen McMaster as he left.
Principal Bob Celebrezze told Inslee WHS is “honored” by his visit. Conger said Inslee visited Wenatchee Valley College and spoke at a conference prior to arriving at WHS. Inslee flew from Olympia this morning, Conger said.
“Keep it up — congratulations,” Inslee told Flones after his one-hour visit.