The Highline Schools Foundation has announced the nominees for its 2026 Gold Star Awards, recognizing educators, staff members, volunteers and community leaders who support students across the Highline School District.

According to the foundation, 171 nominations were submitted for 145 individuals representing 32 schools, programs and departments throughout the district.

The nominees will be honored at the foundation’s annual Gold Star Awards Bash on Thursday Mar. 26 at Highline College, where winners in multiple categories will be announced during the celebration.

The Gold Star Awards recognize a wide range of contributors who help students succeed, including teachers, paraeducators, student support staff, operations and office personnel, leadership staff, volunteers and community partners. Nominees this year come from schools and programs across the Highline district, including elementary, middle and high schools, early learning centers and district departments.

2026 GOLD STAR AWARD NOMINEES

Outstanding Alumni

• Community Partnerships & Family Engagement Team (Arone Andu, Rocio  Ceja, Roderick  Branca, Rosa  Manriquez, Rosie  Santiago)
• Ifrah  Ahmed, Tyee High School

Outstanding Leadership Staff

• Andrew Crook, Evergreen High School
• Angie Bartlett, Health Services
• Corbin Busby, Hilltop Elementary
• Ellen Want, Hilltop Elementary
• Emily Feldtmose, Cascade Middle School
• Jodi Robertson, McMicken Heights Elementary
• Joseph Boyer, Evergreen High School
• Kathryn Holley, Evergreen High School
• Kimberly Jones, North Hill Elementary
• Kristi Suznevich, Sylvester Middle School
• Kyle Hutchinson, Shorewood Elementary
• Maggie Heater, Marvista Elementary
• Taylor Blue, Chinook Middle School

Outstanding Office Support Staff

• Ali Yashruti, Midway Elementary
• Angela Halos, Gregory Heights Elementary
• Ashley Lair, Bow Lake Elementary
• Catherine DaCosta, Sylvester Middle School
• Dina Crosby, North Hill Elementary
• Juan Gonzalez-Hernandez, CAB-N Dept of Digital Transformation
• Kelsey Gomez, Puget Sound Skills Center
• Melissa Erkenswick, Seahurst Elementary
• Natalie Robel, Raisbeck Aviation High School
• Nikki Ashe, Chinook Middle School
• Rebeca Salinas, Innovation Heights Academy
• Roderick Branca, Family/Community Partnerships
• Serah Haugse, Parkside Elementary
• Susan Hope, Evergreen High School
• Vanessa Canales, McMicken Heights Elementary
• Vicki Treakle, Shorewood Elementary

Outstanding Operations Staff

• April Williams, Waskowitz Outdoor Education Center
• Mario Munoz Gomez, Shorewood Elementary
• Najibullah Karimi, Des Moines Elementary
• Tim McLellan, Marvista Elementary

Outstanding Paraeducator

• Allison Roberts, Hilltop Elementary
• Angela Farnsworth, Marvista Elementary
• Anna Bilic, Sylvester Middle School
• Audris Pettit, Bow Lake Elementary
• Carmel Cook, Bow Lake Elementary
• Christina Robinson, Madrona Elementary
• Coletta Hopey, Bow Lake Elementary
• Courtney Steenrod, Marvista Elementary
• Darcy Bork, North Hill Elementary
• Eva Leuthy, Innovation Heights Academy
• Iveth Ramirez Terrazas, Madrona Elementary
• Jennifer McManamon, Valley View Early Learning Center
• John Rainwater, Hilltop Elementary
• Joy Armstrong, McMicken Heights Elementary
• Juan Morales, Marvista Elementary
• Kevin Tessandore, Highline High School
• Lori Riggs, Shorewood Elementary
• Maria Pena Castro, HIlltop Elementary
• Marie Jazmine (MJ) Manaois, McMicken Heights Elementary
• Mayra Guzman Pacheco, Hazel Valley Elementary
• Melissa Bernal, Highline High School
• Rann San, Mount View Elementary
• Regina Overton, Highline Virtual Academy
• Santana Malakar, Midway Elementary
• Sarai Villaneuva Simmons, McMicken Heights Elementary
• Spencer Ssenyama, Shorewood Elementary
• Sweetra Fazly, Pacific Middle School

Outstanding Rookie Teacher

• Betsaida Ortiz-Gonzalez, Hilltop Elementary
• Ilona Brose, Parkside Elementary
• Jenna Lutz, Raisbeck Aviation High School
• Kathryn Holley, Evergreen High School
• Logan Samuels, Hilltop Elementary
• Maximiliaan Magno, Tyee High School
• Wendy Pacheco, Madrona Elementary
• Zahira Almejo Lopez, Pacific Middle School

Outstanding Student Support

• Daniel Bolea, Bow Lake Elementary
• Denise Permen, Valley View Early Learning Center
• Elaine Moy, Mount Rainier High School
• Erin Zamora, Seahurst Elementary
• Haley Miller, Midway and North Hill Elementary
• Jessica Wada, School Psychology
• Jessica Wada, School Psychology 
• John Wyss, Hilltop Elementary
• Keagan Daniels, Shorewood Elementary
• Kristianna Person, Marvista Elementary
• Lily Cohen, Midway and Marvista Elementary
• Naisha Erickson, Gregory Heights Elementary
• Nancy Trang, Cascade Middle School
• Rachel Kerr, Evergreen High School
• Rebeca Salinas, Innovation Heights Academy
• Terri Ainardi, North Hill Elementary
• Thai Rogers, Evergreen High School

Outstanding Teacher

• Alejandro Isiordia Navarro, Evergreen High School
• Alison Kestle, Mount Rainier High School
• Amanda Sandate, Highline High School
• Amanda Skey, North Hill Elementary
• Arianna Sapp, Mount Rainier High School
• Arnel Hadzic, Marvista Elementary
• Betsaida Ortiz-Gonzalez, Hilltop Elementary
• Bianca Longbucco, Cedarhurst Elementary
• Brenda Phelps, Sylvester Middle School
• Cathy Reinsel Torres, North Hill Elementary
• Christina Smith, Hilltop Elementary
• Christine Alexander, Des Moines Elementary
• Chrystal Mason, Highline High School
• Daniel Paly, Evergreen High School
• Darrin Stolz, Raisbeck Aviation High School
• Elizabeth Short, Bow Lake Elementary
• Emilia Galvez, Shorewood Elementary
• Eric Knaphus-Soran, Marvista Elementary
• Erika Castellon, McMicken Heights Elementary
• Erin Carlton, Highline High School
• Georgina Juarez, Hilltop Elementary
• Giovana Zorilla Mascaro, Hazel Valley Elementary
• Hannah Holman, Mount Rainier High School
• Isaac Burdick, Shorewood Elementary
• Jacob Dean, Evergreen High School
• Jessica Barber, Bow Lake Elementary
• John Wyss, Hilltop Elementary
• Karen Montes Gasga, Hilltop Elementary
• Katie McGrew, Gregory Heights Elementary
• Kimberley Glusick, Evergreen High School
• Kimberly Rodriguez, Highline Virtual Academy
• Kyle Stewart, Cascade Middle School
• Lindsay Bogovich, Community Based Services
• Lori Bento, Marvista Elementary
• Maria Pina, Hazel Valley Elementary
• Mario Pilapil, Highline High School
• Mason Costantino, Hilltop Elementary
• Michelle Thomas, The Realistic Transition Program
• Mickie Walker, Marvista Elementary
• Mohamad Shibly, Evergreen High School
• Nathan (“Nate”) Lommen, Cascade Middle School
• Nelly Arroyo, Marvista Elementary
• Phoebe Thompson, Seahurst Elementary
• Renee Agatsuma, Evergreen High School
• Robin Elliott, Shorewood Elementary
• Samantha Fall, Gregory Heights Elementary 
• Sarah Gasamis, Shorewood Elementary
• Stephanie Kuborssy, Glacier Middle School
• Theresa Vasquez, Highline High School
• Thomas Moore, Puget Sound Skills Center

Outstanding Volunteer

• Corina Viera, North Hill Elementary & Sylvester Middle School
• Rasheed Smallwood, Cascade Middle School
• Rebecca Vargas, Hilltop Elementary
• Sharon DaDalto, Highline HS, Mount Rainier HS, PSSC
• Soledad Garcia Velasco, Hazel Valley Elementary

Gold Star Awards Bash is Thursday, Mar. 26

Community members are invited to attend the celebration and support the nominees at the Gold Star Awards Bash on Thursday, Mar. 26 at Highline College.

Tickets and event information are available at:

https://highlineschoolsfoundation.org/gold-star-awards

The annual event serves as one of the foundation’s signature celebrations, highlighting the educators and staff members who play a vital role in supporting Highline students and families across South King County.