Lake Washington School District (LWSD) honored Natural Leaders from Einstein, Frost, Muir and Rose Hill elementary schools with a Community Leadership Award. The award was presented at the annual Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Region 110 Community Awards Luncheon on May 12. These awards are presented to community members or groups in recognition of their outstanding contributions to education.

Natural Leaders are parent leaders from multicultural families who want to learn more about the education system. Their goal is to support partnerships between families, community and schools. Natural Leaders take on a leadership role, building relationships with families in their community. They identify what helps these families be successful in school, and help to implement these ideas. They collaborate with the community and school, sharing a common goal of both adults and children achieving success in school. Student academic success is tied to family engagement in school.

Deputy Superintendent Janene Fogard was also recognized at the WASA Region 110 Community Awards Luncheon with an Award of Merit, which is given to a WASA member who has demonstrated effective leadership at the region level and made a significant contribution to WASA. Fogard has served as deputy superintendent in LWSD for the past 16 years, and has worked in LWSD for nearly 40 years, beginning her career in 1976. Fogard — who will be retiring at the end of the school year — has served in various WASA leadership positions throughout her career. She currently serves as leader for the Business and Personnel Administrators Component for Region 110.

“Fogard is a leader amongst her peers. She is known and respected for her leadership, expertise, creativity, service and longevity as a leader in the region,” reads a LWSD press release.