KALAMA, Wash. – It is often said that a strategic plan is only as strong as the community standing behind it. This week, the Kalama School District received a prestigious affirmation of that strength.
The Washington School Public Relations Association (WSPRA) has announced the winners of its 2025 Communication Awards, recognizing the Kalama School District Strategic Plan as the "Best in Category" for Special Purpose Publications (Enrollment Less Than 10,000). Notably, the judges awarded the publication a perfect score.
This recognition highlights not just the design and clarity of the document, but the authentic, transparent process that built it.
A Victory for Community Collaboration
While the award recognizes the final publication, the true achievement lies in the months of collaboration that filled its pages. The 2025 Strategic Plan was not written in a silo; it was crafted through "thoughtful conversation, active listening, and collaborative effort," as noted in the plan’s introduction.
The "perfect score" reflects the voices of more than 460 parents, students, educators, and community members who responded to the Future-Ready Survey, and the over 60 dedicated individuals on the strategic planning team who synthesized that data into a coherent vision.
The resulting document outlines a clear roadmap to ensure every student is "Future-Ready," anchored by six guiding principles that include "Chinooks Show Up," "Integrity in Action," and "Excellence Through Perseverance."
Sharing the Blueprint for Success at WSSDA
The success of Kalama’s strategic planning process has rippled beyond our district borders. Earlier this month, district leadership was invited to present at the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) Annual Conference, the premier gathering for educational policymakers in the state.
In a session titled "Uniting a Community Around a Strategic Plan," Superintendent Dr. Wesley Benjamin joined Board Directors Wesley Eader, Stephanie Harbell, and Jeremy Kushner to share the district's story.
The presentation detailed how a newly formed school board and a new superintendent engaged the Kalama community to create a shared strategic vision. The team walked attendees through practical strategies for conducting a planning process grounded in listening, trust, and transparency.
By sharing how authentic stakeholder engagement resulted in a dynamic plan that the entire community owns, Kalama is helping set a standard for district governance across Washington.
A "True North" for Kalama
Receiving the "Best in Category" award with a perfect score is a testament to the pride Kalama takes in its schools. The strategic plan serves as the district's "true north," guiding decisions, resource allocation, and instructional standards.
Whether it is the goal of having 85% of 2nd graders reading at grade level, or ensuring 95% of seniors have a post-secondary pathway, the plan is more than an award-winning document—it is a promise to our students.
We want to thank the students, staff, families, and community members who showed up, spoke up, and helped design a future where every child is seen, supported, and ready for what comes next.
Click here to view the award-winning 2025 Strategic Plan.