Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1133200
10 Summer 2019 | wyoea.edu A Commitment to Community and Unity By Elise Robillard WEA's Educational Support Professional of the Year for 2019, Kay Pingree, is a lifelong resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. In all that she does, Kay is guided by an abiding commitment to her family, their community, their student youth, and their respected elders. Kay and her siblings care for their mother who lives in Morning Star Manor in Ft. Washakie. Kay works for Fremont County School District #21 in Fort Washakie where she serves as both the District Accounts Payable Clerk and the Secretary to the School Board. In addition to these roles, Kay serves on the Board of Directors for the Wind River Native Advocacy Center, and as a Fremont County Election Judge. Fun fact about Kay: In her free time, she plays on a billiards team! This dedication to family, community, students and elders guides Kay in all that she does. If you talk with her about her commitment to her community, you will hear Kay emphasize the need for unity over and over again. Kay is the fi rst American Indian to be recognized as Wyoming's Education Support Professional of the Year. She has asked that we share her comments when she accepted her award at the WEA Delegate Assembly Awards Banquet in March: "I would like to thank the WEA for this award and recognition. Thank you also to Northwest Region President John Fabela and Jennifer Platt, my local association president in Fort Washakie, for nominating me. "It is no small thing to be named the WEA ESP of the Year. This is a responsibility that I take sincerely to heart to elevate ESP issues, raise the profi le of thousands of dedicated ESP employees in our state who make public schools work, and build unity across districts and professions serving students in Wyoming. "As an enrolled member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, I also represent my people and all the minority peoples serving Wyoming students. We all benefi t when we seek and build unity. I am a proud member of my union and the origin of union is indeed the word unity. "I recently attended the NEA ESP conference. What I learned there—that our union is diligent in our commitment to professionalism, justice, progress, and UNITY—inspires me and calls us all to work together for the greater good and for our students' bright futures. "The bonds I created there with Bob McCarty, of Torrington and Brandy McCoid, of Guernsey are enduring ones that I will always treasure. We share a dream together of empowered ESP members in districts across the state. "Thank you, again, for this honor. I promise to represent WEA well as I work to build ESP membership and involvement, especially on the Wind River Reservation." Congratulations, Kay! WEA leader W. Kay Pingree with Northwest Region UniServ Director Elise Robillard. WEA leader W. Kay Pingree with Northwest Region UniServ Director Elise Robillard. W. Kay Pingree and Wendy Smith enjoy a chuckle during the Delegate Assembly Awards Banquet. WEA President Kathy Vetter presents W. Kay Pingree with her ESP of the Year Award accompanied by WEA Northwest Region President John Fabela. WEA President Kathy Vetter presents W. Kay Pingree with her ESP of the Year Award accompanied by WEA Northwest Region President John Fabela.