Jacob Dimond / jake@yelmonline.com
Leaders of Yelm Community Schools (YCS) took some time during a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 22, to honor several district office employees with Outstanding Operational Excellence awards for their hard work.
Dr. Lisa Cadero-Smith, YCS assistant superintendent, said that the award intends to honor district office staff who provide “exceptional support” behind the scenes.
“This is work that’s essential to the functioning of our school district and our departments. Their work shows up in many ways,” Cadero-Smith said. “They are responsive. They are kind. They are detail-oriented. They are focused on supporting staff in ways that support teachers and students and families. Often, these are the people that we don’t see and stories that we don’t hear.”
Cadero-Smith was the first of four district office leaders to present a staff member with an Outstanding Operational Excellence award, and she highlighted Kula Roupe, an office professional.
“Kula serves three administrators. Not just myself, but she serves the director of student learning and our director of assessment and student systems. That is no small thing, coordinating and supporting three different administrators who support the entire school district,” Cadero-Smith said. “She functions a lot like an office manager. She maintains confidential information. It’s a joy to listen to her on the phone. I always get such a kick out of it because she’s so kind and always looking for ways to go the extra mile to help people.”
The next speaker was Dee Dee Buckingham, director of human resources in YCS. She honored two employees, Kari Polzin and Tami Kirkham — who both serve as human resource coordinators in the district.
“I’m here to recognize these two extraordinary individuals, Tami and Kari. To say I could not do my job without them is an understatement,” Buckingham said. “They are the backbone of our HR operations, but more importantly, they are the backbone of our HR and payroll team. As you know, the past couple of years have not always been easy. We’ve faced challenging times and navigated difficult transitions. There have even been moments where these two faced personal hurts and were unfairly shunned by those they used to work and socialize with. Despite that, despite the noise and external pressure, Tami and Kari show up every single day.”
Shannon Powell, YCS director of student support, followed Buckingham and honored Ellen Cavanaugh, assistant director of student support.
“Her work often happens behind the scenes but its impact is felt everywhere. People feel supported because of her leadership and attention to detail,” Powell said. “Ellen approaches her role with professionalism, sound judgement and the general commitment to doing things the right way. She is someone to rely on, not only for her knowledge but for her common presence.”
“Operational excellence isn’t just a process. It’s about people. Ellen understands that balance, and because of that, she strengthens our entire organization.”
The final district office leader to present an award was Chris Woods, YCS superintendent. He recognized office professional Lisa Walker-Anderson.
“Lisa brings kindness. That’s probably the most important and biggest thing that Lisa brings — is kindness,” Woods said. “She takes the time to truly listen, shows genuine empathy and has a remarkable ability to de-escalate even the most challenging situations. That’s not easy. A lot of the phone calls, or even visitors we get, come to the district office because they’re not happy with how something has gone. The first person they get to talk to is Lisa, and she has an amazing way with people. People trust Lisa because she’s loyal, dependable and consistently directs staff, families and community members to accurate information with clarity and care.”
