Jay Scott named Regional Educator of the Year

Jay Scott, right, receives the regional Educator of the Year Award from Tri-Cities VFW Commander Myrl Briggs.

by Royal Register Editor & Ted Escobar
| January 6, 2015 5:05 AM

MATTAWA - Christmas came a few days early for Jay Scott, the former site manager at Wahluke schools for the 21st-century program.

At a dinner at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Richland on Saturday, Scott was recognized as Regional Educator of the Year by the VFW.

The irony is that before coming to Mattawa, the U.S. Navy veteran had no intention of being an educator. He was working in the high school as a para pro and part-time kitchen aid when Principal Jeff Pietila made a suggestion that changed his life.

"He approached me about a grant program (21st Century) he believed I would be good at running," Scott said. "Jeff Pietila still is the No. 1 reason I got into this work. He provided me with an opportunity, and I took advantage of it. I will forever be grateful to him for taking a chance on me. I love this work and I couldn't see myself doing anything else in the near future."

Another likely reason the VFW honored Scott is his patriotism. He organized and staged the Veterans Day assembly while he was at Wahluke, and he continues to do that even though he no longer works here.

The job Pietila suggested to Scott was Site Director of the 21st Century Program at Wahluke High from 2008-2012. During those four years he gained an understanding of the importance of his work in the public school system.

"And the need for helping and assisting at-risk low-income youths," he said.

Scott left Wahluke at the end of the 2012-2013 school year, after the 21st Century Program grant expired. He was hired by ESD 123 to take over a struggling grant in Pasco in its fifth and final year.

"When I arrived at New Horizons High School for the 2013-2014 school year, I was determined to use the ideas and programs that worked at Wahluke High School," he said.

Scott created an Art Program, Community Garden Program, multiple study tables, Field Trips, Community Appreciation Events and more. By the end of the school year, he had reached all of the goals established in the grant.

Last summer Scott was recruited by Geno Morales at WSU. She invited him to work for her at WSU-Tri-Cities.

"I was wrapping up my job at New Horizons so I was very interested in the opportunity," he said.

Scott took the job at WSU in June and is now the Site Director of the GEAR UP Program at Kamiakin High School in Kennewick.

GEAR UP: Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs is a five-year federal grant that follows two cohorts of students from ninth grade through their first year of college. Scott is working with approximately 900 students and their families this year.

Scott and his students have gone on field trips to the National College Fair in Spokane and to Eastern Washington University. On the last trip, he took students to CBC, where they participated in the GLAM (Girls Learning About Manufacturing) event.

"It's been a great year, and one of the bright spots was when I was asked to coordinate the Veterans Day ceremony at Wahluke and New Horizons High Schools again," Scott said. "I was honored to be asked."

Scott knew months ago he had been nominated for the VFW award and learned last week he had won. Now he's competing for the state award. The results will be known in a few weeks.

It's uncommon for site managers to be acknowledged for their work in the public school system. Normally this award is given to teachers in the classroom.

"I'm very honored," Scott said.