March 11, 2026

Paraeducator, Trentwood Elementary

Janet has spent 34 years working in the East Valley School District and currently serves as a paraeducator at Trentwood Elementary. Her connection to the district began long before her career—she attended Trent Elementary starting in 1967 and graduated from East Valley in 1979. Inspired by the teachers who shaped her growing up, Janet knew she wanted to work in a school. With lifelong friendships and a deep connection to the district, Janet felt called to return to East Valley and give back to the community that helped shape her.

After getting married, she returned to her childhood neighborhood and the East Valley community she loves. Known by many as the neighborhood mom—or “Aunt Jannie”—Janet has always enjoyed being surrounded by kids. Outside of school, she loves rodeo (especially barrel racing), camping, kayaking, and traveling. She has visited Maui twelve times, traveled to Mexico, and seen nearly every U.S. state, with only Maine and Florida left.

After more than three decades in East Valley, Janet continues to bring warmth, encouragement, and a strong sense of community to Trentwood. Reflecting on her experience, she says, “I would never hesitate to encourage families to join East Valley. We may be small, but we are a huge family!”

Fun Fact: Before joining the district, Janet worked at Playfair Race Course as a groom and outrider, starting many days at 5 a.m. caring for racehorses—an experience that taught her, as she says, that with horses “you need to give those giants respect to survive!” 

Why she loves Trentwood: Janet loves working at Trentwood because of the strong sense of family among the staff. Over the years, even as principals and staff have changed, she says the heart of the school has remained the same—a place built on care, strong principles, and a shared commitment to supporting students.

Favorite part of her job: For Janet, the students are the reason she comes back every day. One of her favorite moments is seeing former students return as parents and sharing memories from their time in school—sometimes even recognizing their personalities in their children. Those connections make her work especially meaningful.

Three words to describe her: Strict - Supporting - Sassy

At East Valley High School, preparing Knights for life after graduation is more than a goal. It is a commitment backed by our strategic plan. My goal as Principal is to provide our students with real opportunities and real results to support their future dreams and ambitions. One of the most powerful examples of that commitment is our Washington 45 pathway. 

The Washington 45 pathway is a set of general education courses that are guaranteed to transfer to any public two or four year college or university in the state of Washington. When students intentionally take specific courses throughout their time at EVHS, they can complete this series before they ever set foot on a college campus. This means they are not just earning credits, they are building a strong academic foundation that moves with them, no matter which in-state college they choose. 

For families in our community, this brings clarity, confidence, and affordability as ALL College in the High School courses are at no-cost. There is no guesswork about whether credits will transfer if your student passes a specific exam. There are no surprises after enrollment. So long as your students enrolls into a College in the High School Courses listed in our Washington 45 pathway located in our 2026-27 Academic Course Guide and passes the course with a “C” or higher, they will earn the college credit associated with our partnered universities (EWU, CWU, and UW). Students who complete the Washington 45 have already taken care of a significant portion of their college general education requirements. That puts our Knights ahead academically and often shortens the time it takes to earn a degree. 

The results of expanding our College in the High School offerings speak for themselves. Since expanding these opportunities, EVHS students have earned more than 1,200 college credits. That translates to an estimated savings of over $500,000 in college tuition for families. Those are real dollars that stay in our community and reduce the financial pressure that often comes with higher education. 

Just as important, students gain confidence. They experience college-level rigor in a supportive high school environment. They learn how to manage expectations, meet deadlines, and engage deeply with challenging material. By the time they graduate, they are not wondering if they are ready for college… they know they are. 

At East Valley High School, we believe access matters. Opportunity matters. Clear pathways matter. Through the Washington 45 and our expanded College in the High School program, we are ensuring that every student who desires an early start on college has the opportunity. This is what Future-Readiness looks like at EVHS! 

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to provide an update on the superintendent search process. East Valley has partnered with Northeast Washington Education Service District 101 (NEWESD 101) to assist in conducting a thorough and professional search.

The position is currently open, with applications due to NEWESD 101 by March 16, 2026.

Current Search Timeline:

March 17, 2026 – Board screens candidates (Executive Session*)
March 21, 2026 – Preliminary candidate interviews (Executive Session*)
March 24, 2026 – Community Forum with Candidate 1 | 6:15–7:30 PM | Admin Office
March 25, 2026 – Community Forum with Candidate 2 | 6:15–7:30 PM | Admin Office
March 26, 2026 – Community Forum with Candidate 3 | 6:15–7:30 PM | Admin Office
March 27, 2026 – Board selects finalist

*Executive Sessions are not open to the public, in accordance with state law.

Process Update
Based on feedback from the previous search process, preliminary interviews will not be open to the public. The Board received input indicating that publishing candidate names prior to finalist interviews may have discouraged some qualified applicants from applying. This adjustment is intended to strengthen the applicant pool while maintaining transparency during the finalist stage.

Community Forums
The community forums will provide an opportunity to hear directly from each finalist and ask questions. We encourage as many community members as possible to participate.  The community forums are scheduled for March 24, 25, and 26 at the Administration Office - 3830 N Sullivan Rd, Bldg 1, Spokane Valley, WA 99216.

Community members may attend:

Following each forum, an electronic feedback form will be available so community members can share their input with the Board of Directors. While the Board values and carefully considers community feedback, the final hiring decision rests with the Board.

As always, thank you for your continued care and commitment. Together, we are East Valley.

Neale Rasmussen 
Assistant Superintendent 

On March 4, the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business and Education recognition dinner. Along with the large and small business awards, an educator from each of the four Valley districts (CV, EV, WV, and Freeman) is selected to represent their respective district as the Educator of the Year. We are extremely proud and pleased to share that Destiny Hornstein (Otis Orchards Elementary) was selected as East Valley’s 2026 Educator of the Year. Earlier this school year, Destiny was also named as Northeast Washington Educational Service District 101’s Teacher of the Year for 2025/26. As the regional selection, Destiny represented the fifty-nine school districts of ESD 101.   

Both of these high profile recognitions reflect Destiny’s unwavering dedication, compassion, and expertise in supporting all students – especially those who need additional behavioral guidance and care. Her approach is fluid, consistent, and deeply student-centered. She creates a space where every student is seen, heard, and valued for who they are by fostering student voice, student buy-in, and student choice; she empowers learners to take ownership of their own growth. Destiny is progressive and forward-thinking, grounding her instruction in executive functioning strategies that guide students toward academic and social success. Her passion, commitment, and innovation are transforming lives and inspiring the school and district community.

Her selection as a special education teacher representing all educators in East Valley as well as our region is a powerful testament to her determination, inclusive practices, and unwavering belief in every child’s potential. We are proud to celebrate and spotlight Destiny as a champion for students, staff, and our entire educational community. 

STCU is partnering with local high school and college career advisors and Launch NW to provide expert assistance in completing the FAFSA form. Help with completing the FAFSA form. If you, or someone you know, plans to apply for financial aid for vocational training, an apprenticeship program, or a 2-year, 4-year, or post-graduate degree, let STCU give you a hand. Membership at STCU is not necessary

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Here for good.

Families are encouraged to register as soon as possible to help schools plan for classrooms, teachers, and resources for the new school year. Registration typically requires basic documents such as proof of age, immunization records, and residency information.

To get started, click the button below or contact your local school for more information about registration steps, required documents, and important dates.

We look forward to welcoming our newest learners to kindergarten!