Annual Swinomish Education Dinner honors achievements

Departing La Conner Schools Superintendent Will Nelson, who is leaving after three years to accept a teaching post at Western Washington University, was among special honorees during the year-end Swinomish Education Dinner at John K. Bob Ball Park on June 13.

Nelson received a ceremonial blanket representing warmth and protection as part of a program that also honored the first-ever cohort of ­Swinomish-trained teachers, the tribal community’s corps of classroom student advocates, Swinomish K-12 students and college graduates, and La Conner School District educators, administrators and school board members.

Swinomish Education Director Michael Vendiola noted that Nelson, a member of Montana’s Blackfeet Nation, based his doctoral research project on the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

“We thank you for that work,” Vendiola said. “We wish you the best of luck in your future.”

Nelson led implementation of new programs such as mastery­-based learning, universal design for learning and professional learning communities during his three-year tenure at La Conner.

Vendiola said Nelson wouldn’t be a stranger to Swinomish despite moving on to WWU’s Bellingham campus.

“He’s still going to be involved in our community,” predicted Vendiola.

The Swinomish Education Dinner brings together those committed to helping tribal students reach their scholastic goals.