‘Mission-driven’ Tri-Cities educator named WA state Superintendent of the Year
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- Pasco’s Michelle Whitney named Washington’s 2026 Superintendent of the Year.
- Recognition qualifies her for the 2026 national superintendent award in February.
- She leads Pasco SD of 19,000 students, expanding dual language and equity programs.
A lifelong Tri-Cities educator known for her compassion and unwavering leadership has been named Washington’s 2026 Superintendent of the Year.
Pasco Superintendent Michelle Whitney was recognized with the accolade on Friday in Seattle at the Washington Association of School Administrators’s fall superintendents meeting.
She is the first Tri-Cities superintendent to earn the distinction since her predecessor, Saundra Hill, in 2013. The prestige qualifies Whitney for the wider 2026 National Superintendent of the Year award, which will be announced in February by the American Association of School Administrators.
WASA Executive Director Jeff Snell lauded Whitney’s steadfast commitment to advancing educational equity, strengthening community partnerships and creating opportunities for students.
Her leadership “shows what it truly means to put students at the center of everything we do,” the former Vancouver superintendent said in a statement.
The annual award applauds exemplary leadership among Washington’s superintendents and honors those who demonstrate outstanding service, vision and commitment to public education.
“Her leadership has brought a sharper focus on individual student success — expanding access, lifting student voices and building a culture of belonging that has improved outcomes and strengthened community trust. Michelle leads with grace, courage and compassion — qualities that inspire everyone around her to do the same,” Snell said.
Pasco educators are earning plenty praise this fall.
In September, Pasco High School math teacher Gabriela Whitemarsh took home the 2026 Washington Teacher of the Year award for her tireless efforts to close the access gap for bilingual students seeking college-level classes. She’ll also compete for a national award.
Whitney leads a district of about 19,000 students and 2,250 employees in one of the most diverse and rapidly growing communities in Eastern Washington.
Pasco is home to the state’s largest dual language program, which has been lauded by Washington Superintendent Chris Reykdal. It’s led the state in expanding multilingual learning for any family who wants that skill set for their student.
Reykdal called Whitney an “excellent representation of what powerful leadership in our K-12 schools looks like.”
“This recognition is very well deserved,” he said in a statement. “Michelle is a dynamic, creative and mission-driven leader, and she is wholeheartedly committed to her students’ success.”
Whitney says the recognition is a “deeply meaningful honor” and is reflective of the commitment by her team and community. She was nominated by a member of the Pasco School Board, and selected by a panel of peers from across the state.
“This recognition is not just about leadership. It’s about the power of public education to transform lives,” she said in a statement. “I am proud to lead from a place where stories matter — where the challenges we carry become the foundation of our purpose, and where service, not spotlight, defines our work.”
A lifelong Pasco educator
Whitney is a Pasco native who began her career as a kindergarten and 4th-grade teacher.
She’s worked for the Pasco School District nearly 30 years, and next year will celebrate a decade of service in the district’s superintendent role. She’s called the work “a calling.”
An inspiring encounter with an advisor at Columbia Basin College, where she earned her associate’s degree, set her on the path to a career in public education.
After teaching, she went on to work as a school counselor and assistant principal. She served as principal of McLoughlin Middle School and went on to serve as the district’s human resources director, and executive director of teaching and learning.
Whitney holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as principal and superintendent certifications, from Washington State University. Whitney earned the 2024 Woman of Distinction award from Washington State University Tri-Cities, as well as CBC’s 2021 Alumna of the Year.
This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 11:35 AM.
