Dana Wilson Named Washington Classified Employee of the Year
The Washougal School District paraeducator receives the state honor for her advocacy for multilingual learners.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Administration
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The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has named Dana Wilson as the 2026 Washington State Classified School Employee of the Year. Wilson is recognized for her dedication to student success as a multilingual learner paraeducator in the Washougal School District.
Why it matters
The award highlights the essential role of support staff in identifying student needs and fostering a positive school culture. Wilson earned the distinction through her ongoing commitment to student academic progress and active advocacy for multilingual learners.
Dana Wilson has served as a co-presenter at the ESD 112 spring Multilingual Mini-Conference for the past 2 years. She actively collaborates with school teachers, counselors, and family support staff to monitor student progress.
The players
Dana Wilson
She is a multilingual learner paraeducator at Jemtegaard Middle School who was selected for her work with the Washougal School District.
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
This is the state agency responsible for overseeing public K-12 education in Washington and managing the annual Classified School Employee of the Year program.
Educational Service District 112
This regional agency provides support services to school districts and previously recognized Wilson as the regional award recipient.
The details
Wilson supports students at Jemtegaard Middle School, where she monitors academic progress and adjusts instructional strategies to meet individual goals. Her work integrates direct student assistance with collaborative planning to ensure multilingual learners have the resources required to succeed.
Timeline
October 30, 2026: Wilson is named Washington State Classified School Employee of the Year.
2026: Wilson is named Regional Classified School Employee of the Year by Educational Service District 112.
2024-2026: Wilson serves as a co-presenter at the ESD 112 Multilingual Mini-Conference.
Culture Shift
This award reflects a broader societal pivot toward recognizing the indispensable role of school support staff in the implementation of Washington State's Basic Education Act. By elevating paraeducators, the state is shifting from a teacher-centric model to a more collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to student achievement.
The recognition of staff members at Jemtegaard Middle School highlights the growing importance of specialized paraeducator support in daily classroom routines. Families of multilingual learners can expect continued advocacy and targeted instructional adjustments as these support roles become more prominent.
The takeaway
This award demonstrates that high-level student achievement often relies on the daily, individualized monitoring provided by support staff. Educators and parents can implement these strategies by fostering closer collaboration between family support staff and classroom teachers.
Further reading
Learn more about state recognition programs on the Washington Administration page.
More information
Review the full eligibility criteria and award history on the OSPI Classified Employee award webpage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Vancouver Business Journal.
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