Snohomish School District

On your marks, get set, GO!

It was all smiles, laughter, and school spirit at Cascade View Elementary yesterday as teachers suited up for the second annual end-of-year inflatable race. From start to finish, students and staff cheered them on, proving that sometimes the best prize is simply having fun together!

Congratulations to our June 2026 Golden Apple Award recipients!

We are thrilled to recognize three outstanding staff members who go above and beyond for our students, staff, and community:

• Classified- Linda Hardy- Administrative Assistant- AIM High School
• Certificated- Lanna Duncan- Counselor- Totem Falls Elementary
• Student Selected- Captain William Lennon- JROTC Teacher- Snohomish High School

The Golden Apple Award honors Snohomish School District employees who exemplify our core values of being student-focused, cultivating belonging, and creating an equitable, caring environment where every student can thrive.

Linda, Lanna, and Will, we are proud to recognize you as recipients of the Golden Apple Award. Thank you for all that you do!

To read more about their nominations along with a list of all of our 2025-2026 Golden Apple nominees at www.sno.wednet.edu/goldenapplerecipients.

This wraps up our 2025-2026 Golden Apple awards for the year. We look forward to continuing this program with our next awards in October 2026.

Join us in giving a huge round of applause to our incredible 2026 Snohomish School District Transition Center graduates: Macy Rockafield, Serenity Kuehn, and Pavel Krot. These outstanding young adults graduated earlier today and are ready to take on the next chapter of their lives, and we couldn’t be prouder! The Transition Center is a district program for men/women (ages 18 – 22) with special needs that is designed to help them reach their goals. The program is designed to prepare students for post-secondary life by building the academic, employment, and daily living skills necessary for independence in adult life. Congratulations, graduates! You did it!

Congratulations, AIM High School Class of 2026!

We are incredibly proud of all you have accomplished. Through hard work, perseverance, and determination, you have reached this significant milestone and earned the opportunity to celebrate your success.

As you look toward the future, continue to aim high, embrace new opportunities, and believe in your ability to achieve great things. Your next adventure is just beginning, and we can't wait to see what comes next.

For graduation information and a recording of the ceremony, visit www.sno.wednet.edu/news/2026graduates.

Meet Seattle Hill Elementary teacher Matt Lawson!

• How many years have you worked in education? I have been teaching now for 24 years. After teaching in Cle Elum right out of college, my wife and I knew we wanted to raise our family in Snohomish. So, when my daughter Kaylee was born in 1994, I ended up working at Cuz Concrete in Arlington for a lot more money than I could make teaching. Cuz was a great job: owners who treated me like family, and I learned a lot about hard work, teamwork, and the construction/production world. After nine years, the pull of being a teacher was too much, and our own family (my son Hayden was born in 1997) was at a place that it just made sense to get back into teaching. I taught two amazing years of 7th grade English Language Arts (ELA) in Phoenix, Arizona, then another year of 7th grade ELA in Mukilteo, and then I will never forget the day I got that call from Principal Paula Nelson that told me I would be coming to Seattle Hill Elementary! I have been here ever since!

• How long have you worked in the Snohomish School District and what is your role? I have been at Seattle Hill Elementary for 20 years. Teaching 6th grade has been my pride and passion every year. I thought early on that coaching in middle school was going to be a big thing for me, but there is nothing better that being in a place you love, doing a job you love. My favorite thing about teaching these incredible students is just getting them ready for middle school and bigger and better things! Life for 11- and 12-year-olds is very challenging, difficult, and oh so confusing, so being a positive role model for them is an honor and motivates me every day.

• If you had a day completely to yourself with no responsibilities, how would you spend it? Family time! Now that I am a grandpa, I cherish these days that we can just do whatever our grandson Jack wants to do! Watch him play sports, go out for lunch, hit the beach, or the mall, or the Science Center, or the zoo ... or just sit in the garage and take apart toys with a screwdriver. Anything we can do as a family is just what I love to do.

• What would others be surprised to learn about you? I have an extensive collection of Tony Gwynn baseball cards and memorabilia. Tony played for the San Diego Padres from 1982 through 2001, and he is my idol, no doubt. He is one of the greatest hitters of all time and was a tremendous role model. I currently have over 12,000 different baseball cards of Tony, along with a roomful of baseballs, bobbleheads, barbeque sauces and anything else that has Tony Gwynn on it.

• What clubs, sports, or activities were you involved in as a student? Basketball was the main sport. I played from 3rd grade all the way through high school. I worked at a golf course starting in middle school, and I got really good at golf by practicing every day. I remember the high school golf coach begging me to play for him, but I just wasn’t interested. He was also my math teacher, so I did not get the best math grades that semester.

• Who was your most memorable teacher as a child, and why? I will never forget Mr. Fakkema in 6th grade in Oak Harbor. Every time he talked to you, he made you feel like you were most important, and that anything you said was significant and so meaningful. He used to make this “that’s incredible” face with wide eyes and open mouth. It was just a simple effort on his part to make me and all the students feel loved and listened to.

• Who inspires you, and why? This is an easy one. My wife, Linnea, has inspired me every day since we met after our first dance at Central Washington University in 1987. We’ve been married for 33 years, and she is my best friend. Linnea is a 6th grade teacher in the Everett School District. How lucky am I to live with the greatest teacher ever to discuss, question, plan, compare, complain, learn, grow, cry, and celebrate with? She is always by my side, is the best mother and grandma, and we still get excited for the future together!

Note: Today marks our final Meet the District Staff Spotlight of the year! We hope you've enjoyed getting to know some of the more than 90 incredible educators and staff members who help make Snohomish School District such a special place. Thank you for following along as we celebrated the people who make a difference in our schools every day! Check out other 2025-2026 Meet Our District Staff spotlights at www.sno.wednet.edu/meetourdistrictstaff

What would you tell your senior-year self?

With graduations just around the corner, we asked Snohomish School District staff to dust off their senior photos and share a few words of wisdom they wish they could have given their younger selves.

Take a stroll down memory lane with our Yearbook Rewind, a fun look at decades of hairstyles, fashion choices, and life lessons of the educators, support staff, administrators, and district employees who serve our students every day.

To the Class of 2026: Enjoy the journey, embrace the opportunities ahead, and know that we're cheering you on. We can't wait to see where your next chapter takes you!

Thank you to the Snohomish Education Foundation for its ongoing support of our students and their futures!

These scholarships are made possible through the generosity of local donors, families, businesses, organizations, and community partners who continue investing in Snohomish students year after year. Their commitment helps open doors to new opportunities and supports students as they take their next steps after graduation. Thank you for making a lasting difference in the lives of our students!

A huge congrats to Glacier Peak High School boys track & field coach David W**d who was recently named this year's Wesco 4A Boys Track & Field Coach of the Year!

This year, 798 students will graduate from district high schools and programs! Congratulations to the Class of 2026 on this incredible achievement!

Visit www.sno.wednet.edu/news/2026graduates for details about graduation ceremonies at AIM High School, Glacier Peak High School, Snohomish High School, and the district’s Transition Center. You'll find information about attending in person, livestream links, ceremony schedules, and more.

We look forward to celebrating our graduates and this important milestone with our community!

Meet Centennial Middle School student support advocate Chynna Gibbs!

• How many years have you worked in education? This is my fifth year working in a school setting. Before joining the district, I worked as a child and family therapist in an intensive outpatient program serving Snohomish County. In that role, I supported children and their families navigating complex mental health and social-emotional challenges. That experience really shaped my passion for supporting children and adolescents and continues to guide the work I do in schools today.

• How long have you worked in the Snohomish School District and what is your role? I’ve been with the Snohomish School District since May 2021 and currently serve as the Student Support Advocate at Centennial Middle School. My favorite part of my role is building genuine connections with students and families and helping remove barriers that can impact a student’s success. I especially love being able to connect families with resources and basic needs support. It’s incredibly rewarding work, and I feel lucky to build relationships with so many amazing students, families, and staff each day.

• What would others be surprised to learn about you? People might be surprised to learn that I love playing pickleball competitively. It’s become one of my favorite outlets, and it’s introduced me to an incredible sense of community. It’s also something I enjoy to do with my mom…who is, unfortunately better, than me!

• What was your dream job when you were a kid? When I was younger, I really wanted to be a firefighter! As I got older and into high school, my interests shifted, and I realized I wanted to work with and support youth and adolescents. That passion eventually led me to a rewarding career in social work.

• What is one of your favorite memories from when you were in school as a student, and why? I grew up in a small, tight-knit community similar to Snohomish, and I always loved being part of the school events and traditions that brought everyone together. I also played multiple sports, and being a student-athlete was one of my favorite parts of my school experience. It helped me build strong relationships and taught me the importance of community, teamwork, and connection.

• What’s your favorite school supply and why? A planner, no question. I’m usually very busy, so I live by my calendar. So if it’s not written down, there’s a pretty good chance that it’s not happening!

• Who inspires you, and why? My biggest inspiration is my mom. She is one of the toughest and most intelligent people I know. She worked two jobs while raising my sister and me, demonstrating resilience, sacrifice, and dedication every single day. She means so much to me, and the work ethic she instilled in me continues to guide both my personal and professional life… and yes, I still call her when I don’t know what I’m doing.

Learn more about our educators and staff who help make Snohomish School District so special! Check out other 2025-2026 Meet Our District Staff spotlights at www.sno.wednet.edu/meetourdistrictstaff.