Retiring Tri-City educator honored for service at Crystal Apple Awards

After spending almost 20 years recognizing Mid-Columbia teachers and community members for their contributions to education, Bruce Hawkins was stunned Thursday when he was called to the podium.

“If deceit were $1 a pound, we’d have a million dollars in this room,” said Hawkins, the retiring superintendent of Educational Service District 123, after he received this year’s Special Achievement Award at the Tri-City Crystal Apple Awards in Pasco.

A crowd of 200 people was on hand to honor this year’s 10 Crystal Apple winners, hailing from seven school districts. Many have taught for decades and put in time as coaches or student club advisers. All were celebrated for their commitment to their students.

And Hawkins, who has worked as an educator in the region since the 1980s, was lauded for that same commitment. He was a leader and innovator of new programs to help children who had not yet begun their formal education and those belonging to migrant families.

“Clearly, Bruce is a tireless and passionate advocate for students and teachers, with a career devoted to education spanning nearly 40 years,” said Deb Bowen, executive director of the Washington State STEM Education Foundation. “He is so respected and so loved by so many.”

Area superintendents had plenty to say about this year’s honored teachers. Columbia Superintendent Lou Gates noted that Columbia Elementary reading teacher Wanda Parks started her work at the school as a paraeducator by day and a custodian by night, all while earning a teaching certificate and caring for her family.

Finley Superintendent Lance Hahn noted that Andy Clayton, a teacher at Finley Middle School, has taken numerous roles as a teacher and coach without a concern for the time those tasks take.

Crystal Ramos, a bilingual teacher at Kennewick’s Eastgate Elementary School, was noted for her devotion to her students despite challenges in her own life, such as her twin sons having been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy.

A grandmother wrote in a letter to the awards selection committee that Lisa Schmidt, a special education teacher at Kiona-Benton City Primary School, has done wonderful things for her grandson, such as giving him dance breaks on days he has excess energy so he could focus better on his lessons.

A former student of Karol Hockaday, a second-grade teacher at Connell Elementary School, wrote of how he’s an A student now because of her.

“She recognized I had potential, but needed time,” said North Franklin Superintendent Gregg Taylor when reading the letter.

Bowen said that Hawkins’ selection for the Special Achievement Award was based on the same dedication and advocacy for children that the Crystal Apples have honored teachers for since they began 18 years ago.

It was during Hawkins’ tenure that the ESD established an early learning department that led to preschool services being offered in 12 centers in seven districts. Expanded professional development opportunities, technology assistance and a migrant education program were also developed under his leadership.

But Hawkins didn’t have much to say after the room applauded his being honored. Instead, he kept the focus where the Crystal Apples was always meant to have it.

“I’d just like to say, let’s keep doing this,” he said of the annual awards.

This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 6:34 PM with the headline "Retiring Tri-City educator honored for service at Crystal Apple Awards."