As we step into 2025, I extend my heartfelt wishes to each of you. The beginning of a new year is a time filled with hope, new possibilities, and the promise of fresh beginnings.

I am deeply thankful for the unwavering support and partnership of our families and community. Your dedication and involvement are vital to the success of our students and the strength of our school community. Together, we have faced challenges, celebrated milestones, and continued to strive for excellence in education.

This year, I am excited to deepen our  initiatives and programs as part of the Strategic Plan that will further enrich the educational experience for our students. We are committed to fostering an environment where every student can achieve their full potential.

As we embark on this new chapter, I encourage and ask you to stay engaged and connected with us. Your feedback, participation, and collaboration are essential as we work together to support our students' growth and development.

I wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Let's make 2025 one of growth, learning, and success for all.

Together, we are East Valley!

Brian Talbott
Superintendent

Sally began her employment with East Valley 27 years ago! She is originally from Scotland, and has lived in the States since 1982. Both her kids and grandkids have gone through East Valley schools. Sally shared that she is all about family, and when you’re in East Valley, the students are “all our kids.”

While initially having been recruited to East Valley by a friend, she started in nutrition services at just one hour and forty-five minutes a day. In an effort to get up to eight hours a day, she held four different jobs in the district that included cashier, custodial, laundry, and mail run. Although there are currently six employees in the high school kitchen, when Sally first began with the District there were ten. Three different lunches were served and everything was made from scratch. She said she started off as the youngest employee in the kitchen, and is now the oldest! When she’s here, she feels it’s her responsibility to take care of the kids and it shows in the meals she prepares and serves the students. It is also quite evident in the strong, positive relationships she and her teammates have with the students.  

Since Sally’s employment began in East Valley, she has made the trip back home to Scotland at least 15 times! In her off time Sally enjoys fun getaways with her friends.

Why she loves EVHS and Nutrition Services: The kids!  She said she never thought she’d get along with teenagers, but “you just get to know them.” 

Why she chose East Valley: Her friend talked her into working here! She said it wasn’t her first choice to work for a school district, but her friend encouraged her to try it. She came to visit the kitchen one day, stood in the back and observed, and said she knew she wanted to do it. 

Favorite part of her job: The kids! The best part of her day is seeing the kids and connecting with and getting to know them.

Fun fact: When Sally gets upset or excited she talks so fast that most people aren’t able to understand her with her accent.

Three words to describe her: Loyal – Caring - Trustworthy

It is with a great deal of gratitude we recognize and celebrate our East Valley School Board members. Our five Board members are elected by the local community and serve in four-year terms. Unlike other elected positions, school directors do not receive payment for their service: in essence, they are elected volunteers. As elected officials, school board members have various responsibilities, which include budget oversight, advocating for the needs of students, and creating systems to meet district goals. 

School directors selflessly volunteer their time and expertise to ensure all students have access and the needed resources to provide them with an enriching educational experience. In the East Valley School District, our passionate and elected leaders are champions of public education, guiding and supporting the needs of EVSD. Additionally, they fulfill an essential role in fostering student achievement by displaying effective leadership and establishing thoughtful policies and transparency within our schools and community.

Thank you EVSD Board members!

Theresa Noack - Director District 1 - Began in 2020
Beata Cox - Director District 2 - *Will officially begin her appointment in January, 2024
Justin Voelker - Director District 3 - Began in 2013
Jonathan Horsley - Director District 4 - Began in 2021
Mike Bly - Director District 5 - Began in 2019

Former East Valley educator and Mt. View Middle School Coach, Dave Smith, was recently inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coach Hall of Fame. Coach Smith championed the mats for 24 years in the East Valley School District and compiled a record of 82 – 8.

Dave Smith began coaching wrestling in 1984 at Mountain View Junior High. He inherited a program that had not won a match in two years. In his first year he piloted the Lancers to a 3-3 dual record and narrowly lost to the eventual league champs. This was the turning point for the future of the program. In the years that followed his inaugural season, Smith worked hard to recruit top athletes, assistant coaches, and created a youth program that resulted in four back-to-back seasons with a record of 28-0.

In 1989 East Valley SD was one of the first to adopt the middle school model, sending their ninth grade students to the high school. Most of the Lancer opponents still maintained ninth graders at the junior high for the next two seasons. Competing with only 7th-8th graders, the Lancers still maintained winning records of 4-3 and 5-2.

When the rest of the league transitioned to the middle school model, the Mt. View Lancers dominated the league for two decades, which included an unprecedented 141 straight dual meet wins under Smith's leadership and 21 straight league titles in addition to the four championships won from 1985-1989. His dual meet record at Mt. View was 175-8. The winning streak was never broken as Mt. View was closed in 2011 and the wrestling program's legacy ended. 

He continued to coach at Sacajawea MS from 2010- 2015, and East Valley MS from 2016-2018. 

Smith was presented with the Jim Kuehnle Award in 2001 and 2020 as the outstanding teacher in the EVSD. He was nominated in 2015 and again in 2022 for Washington Teacher of the Year by his principal. 

Smith and his wife Lori have two children; Aaron and Patric. Smith retired from teaching with East Valley SD in 2022. 

As part of our commitment to achieving the goals outlined in our strategic plan, we are excited to introduce four key initiatives being implemented over the next six years. These initiatives are designed to enhance the educational experience for our students, engage our community, and ensure our students and district are prepared for the future.

Engaging & Effective Teaching & Learning Systems

• Ensure high quality collaboration focused on teacher practice and student outcomes.

• Identify and support the use of highly effective educational strategies.

• Create a system to support the district-wide use of data to inform and support inclusionary practices.

Dynamic & Culturally Responsive Family Engagement

• Create systems and support to ensure belonging for students and families.

• Support utilization of inclusive practices (i.e., student and parent advisories, etc.).

• Provide timely, accessible, and consistent communication to families related to student progress.

Facilities & Programs for Future Readiness

• Initiate a district facilities committee for short-term and long-term planning.

• Conduct site visits and assessment of current building trends to inform facilities planning.

• Develop a plan to ensure future ready facilities and programs for each student in EVSD.

• Convene a group that looks at regional workforce needs and recommendations.

Recruitment & Retention of a High-Quality Workforce

• Refine and align hiring practices and protocols in alignment with strategic plan goals and vision.

• Create a system that integrates student voice in the hiring process.

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