Clothier and Hiller recognized at alumni banquet

Ryan Hiller and Beth Clothier were instrumental in helping La Conner schools navigate uncharted waters posed by a global pandemic.

The couple, members of the La Conner High School Class of 1987, were formally recognized as the school’s Outstanding Alumni for 2022 at the La Conner Alumni Association’s annual banquet and program in the middle school gymnasium June 4.

“These two individuals are very important to the school district,” said association vice-president Susie Deyo.

“During the pandemic the last couple years we needed someone to step up and take on leadership and think outside the box,” Deyo said. “They were the leaders.”

Hiller, the schools technology director, and Clothier, the district librarian who next year joins the administrative team as assistant director of teaching and learning, were instrumental in developing remote learning options for students when campuses statewide were closed due to COVID-19.

Deyo noted that Hiller spent the summer of 2020 at school preparing several hundred computers for use by students and faculty prior to the start of online instruction that fall.

“He had to make sure staff and students had PCs or laptops,” Deyo recounted. “They needed software. The laptops had to be ready to hand off on the first day of school.”

Hiller took the task so seriously that he stayed on campus the night before school started to safeguard the laptops, she said.

He also developed formats to livestream district sports and special events.

Clothier helped facilitate student access to learning materials and resources at a time when the La Conner campus was closed.

“They think of anything and everything,” said Deyo, “and are always very well prepared.”

She shared how Hiller’s and Clothier’s families moved here in 1979 and 1981, respectively, when the two were growing up.

They would go on to graduate from Washington State University, then embark on initial careers apart from one another. Hiller and Clothier eventually reconnected – in marriage and on the La Conner faculty.

“It’s the best place to go to high school,” Hiller said, noting the influence La Conner teachers and alumni have had on his career and personal development.

“Events like this,” added Clothier, referring to the alumni banquet, “remind us that we can have the same impact that our teachers and the community has had on us.

“I love this district,” she said. “I love what I do. And I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the teachers who impacted me.”

Alumni association scholarship awards of $1,000 were announced for seniors Emma Keller, Rachel Cram, Delaney Cobbs, Juna Swanson and Cameron Burks.

Roger Nelson, Class of 1962; Dorina Denton, Class of 1972; and Master of Ceremonies Rene Pedroza, Class of 1982, spoke on behalf of their reunion classes.

Alumni association officers for 2021-22, in addition to Deyo, were President Jim Hernandez, Class of 1977, Secretary Nancy Zimmerman Alvord (1974), and Treasurer Kimberly Good Rubenstein (1973). Board members are Judy Rancourt Zimmerman (1970), Tom Zimmerman (1970), Vicki Nelson Harmon (1971), Dave Alvord (1974), Patsy Good (1976) and Jane Thulen Anderson (1983).

The group did not meet in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. The banquet and program on Saturday marked the 108th annual alumni w and first in the middle school gymnasium.