ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR KIDS WINNER FROM NOOKSACK VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Above & Beyond for Kids Dinner, held on November 20, 2008 at the Bellingham Yacht Club welcomed more than 150 people as Northwest Youth Services celebrated those in our community who go “Above & Beyond for Kids.” 

Five finalists were selected this past spring from more than 50 nominees considered for this award.  Persons could be nominated in one of four categories: youth, adult, service club/government/non-profit and business/corporation.  Longevity, impact, innovation and the extent of having gone “above and beyond” for children and youth were the primary evaluation criteria.

The Above & Beyond for Kids champion and winner for the evening was Becky Robertson, a Family Services Specialist with the Readiness to Learn Program at the Nooksack Valley School District.

Becky was hired by the Nooksack Valley School District in 1993 as the result of a new program called Readiness to Learn, called RTL.  The first program of its kind here in Whatcom County, RTL was designed to link schools, families and community resources together in such a way that all students would have the support they needed to be successful in school.  Since that time, all other school districts in Whatcom County have developed RTL programs of their own, and Becky has become the role model for the program. 

Nooksack staff report that in their experience, Becky puts the needs of children and families first and without exception.  Staff are continually amazed at the level of knowledge Becky has about the families she serves.  She opens her purse at home visits when it is evident that a trip to the store is needed immediately as there is no food in the house, knowing that she will working on access to the food bank and systems support later.  If a child has a problem, Becky meets with everyone and anyone she needs to – principals, teachers, counselors, agencies – to set up a plan to make sure the problem is addressed and accommodated for success in the classroom.  All of this work is without fanfare, selflessly serving students and families in the Nooksack Valley School District with almost zero thanks.  She never self-promotes and one principal recently reflected that he strived to serve as she does. 

One particular story truly demonstrates Becky’s dedication. 

A family new to the Nooksack Valley came to Becky’s attention.  From rural Mexico, this family had six children – none of whom were in school or had ever been to school.  Working closely with this family and respecting the family’s historical experiences and traditions of all working in the field’s together, Becky was able to get past the language barrier – as the family spoke an indigenous language that was native to the part of Mexico they immigrated from – and complications such as no birth certificates – and get all of the kids eventually into school.  Becky advocated for the oldest girl, who was approximately 17 years old, to spend part of her high school day earning elective credits in the districts’ early childhood program helping the preschoolers learn about being in school, working on early literacy skills and in general – playing with them in a school environment with school materials.  This young woman just blossomed.  The safe environment of the early childhood classroom gave her permission to explore school while being the “adult” and guiding young children in their learning.  It is such an example of how Becky not only gets in there to get the work done that will get results, but also have the empathy and thoughtfulness to think about how services and experiences are going to feel to the student – and to his or her family – that receives them. 

When her Nooksack Valley School District coworkers were asked about Becky, this is what they had to say, “Becky has truly been a pioneer in establishing the mutually respectful relationships between schools and community services that are necessary in order to actually get the services needed by children and families.  Phrases such as “quiet grace” are used to when colleagues in community agencies speak of Becky.  When a RTL colleague wanted to recognize her work a few years ago, Becky’s request was not to receive a personal gift, but rather a contribution for a “slush fund” she used in case families had an emergency need she could help with.  She is the definition of Above & Beyond for Kids.” 

Others honored at the Above & Beyond for Kids Dinner include: Dane Vennewitz and Manis Pierre, volunteers with Children’s Programs at Lydia Place;  Trevor Press, an eighth grader at Fairhaven Middle School and Congregation Beth Israel; Becki Cronk, Tami Flett and Kim Donk, volunteers for Youth Self-Advocacy at the Arc of Whatcom County and Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Charles “Chuck” Snyder. 

At the dinner, past presidents of Northwest Youth Services’ Board of Directors, Rebecca Johnson and Charles Onion, were honored, along with past Northwest Youth Services Executive Director David Webster and 12-year board member, Brad Flinn.  The evening culminated with one of Northwest Youth Services’ direct services clients sharing his life experiences before coming to Northwest Youth Services and now.  The Above & Beyond for Kids Dinner raised approximately $27,000 net, inclusive of multi-year pledges towards the organization.  All funds raised go in support of Northwest Youth Services programs. 

The Above & Beyond for Kids Dinner was made possible by: Bellingham Cold Storage, Shew Design, IMCO General Construction, Premier Graphics, Superfeet, Britain & Vis, OASYS Office Automation Systems, Whidbey Island Bank, Belcher & Swanson Law Firm, PLLC, Webster, Caballero & Associates, The Unity Group, The Archer Group and The Franklin Corporation.