Our very Special Guest on Friday, June 18th was Dr. Amy Beth Cook, who will retire at the end of the month after a 39 year career in education including 10 years as Superintendent. All of that time was with the Lake Stevens School District. Dr. Cook updated our members on the fabulous changes occurring during the past ten years. It can be said without reservation that Dr. Cook led with her heart and put our children first in all things. Leadership has been her strength and the relationships she has built over all of these years are memorable.
Dr. Cook began her presentation acknowledging that it was all about the team, not her. Dr. Cook started as the Superintendent in 2011. When she became Superintendent the enrollment was 7,923 with 843 employees and 600 desktop computers in labs for student access. There was Lake Stevens High School, Cavelero Mid High School, two Middle Schools, six Elementary Schools, the Early Learning Center, the Transitions Program and the Homelink Program.
In 2021 enrollment is 9,185, employing 1,228 and 8,299 Chromebooks checked out to individual students, K-12. In addition to all of the schools already listed there is now another Elementary School and a brand new Early Learning Center replacing the very outdated one at the Hillcrest Elementary campus. This allowed Hillcrest to expand since there are hundreds of new children moving into the southwest area of Lake Stevens
Ribbon cuttings for the new facilities was in 2018. The property on Lake Drive has room for a future Middle School. Stevens Creek won a huge national architectural award. Things have really changed in the classroom and what schools look like. Those days of four walls are gone. Groups toured many school districts all over the United States, held focus meetings with the community, parents and students. Showed the Learning Commons originally known as the Library. No more rolls of desk. Many alternatives for children to choose their seating. Lots of flexibility.
Lake Stevens High School changes where trusting kids was the best way to honor them in the newest wing and modernizing of the high school. Nano doors are abundant throughout the new design. New rebranding of the high school was important for the new look. Bond projects will be necessary for safety and entrance into the schools. New Kindergarten classrooms at the older six elementary schools was achieved through a huge grant in 2016. The growth of Robotics at the high school and Cavelero has been a huge success, winning at several different levels. Dr. Cook shared a video on a recent Robotics competition. They have a new manufacturing technology program at the high school in cooperation with Everett Community College.
Ours was one of the first districts to hire a mental health specialist trained to work with students who might have some difficulties along with two therapy dogs that have made a huge difference. The last part of the program talked about the infrastructure and increased technology that has become common in schools these days.
Congratulations on your retirement at the end of the month Dr. Cook! You have been an inspiration and a blessing to all of us in Lake Stevens.