WSSRA Appreciation week and award nominations honor local current and retired educators

WALLA WALLA — Washington School Retirees’ Appreciation Week will be observed March 17 through 21, 2026. It recognizes the ongoing, long-term impact of retired public-school educators and staff on schools and communities.

The Washington State School Retirees Association (WSSRA) serves over 17,000 members by offering advocacy, insurance, and scholarships.  School staff who are currently employed may also be members of WSSRA.

The Walla Walla Columbia School Retirees’ Association, Unit 31, represents retired and active school employees living in College Place, Columbia-Burbank, Dixie, Dayton, Prescott, Starbuck, Touchet, Waitsburg, and Walla Walla.

Members of Unit 31 recently nominated three members for state WSSRA awards.

Retired Prescott teacher Sue DeRuwe was nominated for the Stan McNaughton Community Award. The community award recognizes WSSRA members who have improved the image of school retirees through community volunteerism.

From the Waitsburg School District, retired teacher Jim Davison was nominated for the Ester Wilfong Legislative Advocacy Award. The advocacy award is given to WSSRA members for their efforts on behalf of the association in pension and healthcare advocacy.

Retired Walla Walla teacher, Kathy Pritcher, was nominated for the Patrick Hoban Meritorious Award.  The meritorious award is given to WSSRA members who have excelled in accomplishing their assigned duties for their local unit or state association.

The recipients will be announced at the Washington State School Retirees’ Association’s State Convention on June 9, 2026, at Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington.

Sixteen active members were recently selected for $250 mini grant awards. In the fall, active WSSRA members submit applications to the organization, stating how they would use the funds to benefit their students.

Selected to receive the mini grants were Kristine Warren in Dayton; Angela Adams, Jeff Foertsch, Ada Gonzalez, Jennifer Hammer, Shannon Milsten, and Erika Romero from Prescott; Robin McQuary-Billow from Starbuck; Dustin Crenshaw, Debbie Ortiz, and Kathleen Warner in Touchet. Waitsburg’s recipients were Jessica Griffith, Brenda Henderson, Rosy Nechodom, Shannon Schreindl, and Kimberly McNarland.

In Waitsburg, six retired WSSRA members volunteer for the LAP/Title I program each Friday afternoon at Waitsburg Elementary. Maddie Martin, Liv Leid, Kathy Schirm, Roseann Groom, Linda Henze, and Katie Leid read with kindergarten, first-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students. Five members volunteer one Friday a month, and one serves as a fill-in.

The Washington State School Retirees’ Association works to enhance the security and vitality of public-school employees’ retirement years. It welcomes past, present, and future retirees. For more information about WSSRA, visit wwsra.org. For more about Unit 31, visit wssra-units.org/wallawalla-columbia.