Washington Community Schools awarded the Hope Honors Medal at Kids at the Hope Masters Institute
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- Awards
- Kids at Hope
Tori Peterson
The Hope Honors Medal recognizes individuals and organizations who are cultivating and activating hope within their communities.
The Hope Honors Medal recognizes individuals and organizations who are cultivating and activating hope within their communities.
This past week several teachers and administrators from Washington Community Schools journeyed to Phoenix, Arizona, to hear from the world's leading researchers and practitioners at the 18th Annual Kids at Hope Masters Institute. This is the fourth group of WCS educators to attend the conference.
The Masters Institute examines the power of the science of hope, its intersection with child and youth development theory, and translates that energy into a strategic cultural framework that demonstrates how all children and youth are capable of success, NO Exceptions!
Accepting the Hope Honors Medial on behalf of the district were Assistant Superintendent Steve Peterson, Kristen Murphy, Rhiannon Fry, Brenda Meredith, Jordan Bennington, Rochelle Evans, Kelly Miller, and Kaitlyn Wilson. They also had the opportunity to share how Kids at Hope is an integral part of the culture at WCS and how the district integrates the Kids at Hope philosophy into a variety of programs including Title I Family Nights, Play Partners, Peer Mentors, and the Helping Others video series.
The team is excited to learn more about the latest research on Hope. "It's not risk or trauma that prevents kids from succeeding; it's the absence of hope, and that is something we can control," Kelly Miller shares. "If you're trained to look for it, you will find it," adds Rochelle Evans.
Washington Community Schools first adopted the Kids at Hope belief system in 2017 when then principal Jeanette Lobeck introduced Kids at Hope at Lena Dunn Elementary. The program was then expanded to include all elementary schools when the district transitioned to grade-level centers in 2022. This award is a testament to the unwavering commitment of Washington Community Schools to fostering hope and ensuring the success of every child within its care.
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- WP