The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Soon I’ll be completing my sixth year as the superintendent of the Wellpinit School District. When I arrived a priority in the District was to increase the number of Native American employees. At a consultation between the District and the Spokane Tribal Council we introduced eighteen Native American classified employees that have been hired over the last six years. We’ve also increased our number of teachers who are Native American in this time span. Recently, we introduced our new secondary principal, Laina Phillips, to the Council. Laina is a Spokane tribal member. She was born and raised in Wellpinit. We hired her as a teacher, encouraged her to get her principals’ credential and then promoted her to principal. In a very short time Laina has been recognized by ESD 101, highlighted by the Association of Washington School Principals and selected to be one of the eight principals on the OSPI task force for opening schools for the 2020-21 school year.

My school board and I are very proud of these employees and have established a foundation so they are supported and successful. I would like to see my local GCDSD move in a progressive fashion like this.

John M. Adkins