Three RSD Educators Honored With State CTE Awards

Join us in celebrating three Richland School District educators who have earned state Career and Technical Education (CTE) awards at the WA Association for Career & Technical Education (WA-ACTE) annual conference held in August.

Hanford High School’s Ed Ufford was named Washington ACTE Teacher of the Year for his innovation in the classroom, commitment to his students, and dedication to the improvement of CTE at Hanford High and throughout the community.

For the past 30 years, Ufford has educated CTE students at Hanford High in a variety of manufacturing and woodworking classes. He currently teaches courses such as Wood/Manufacturing Technology, Digital Design & Fabrication, and Core + Metals Manufacturing Technology, all of which demand a high level of technical skill and expertise.

Mike Gaddis, Assistant Principal at Hanford High School, has been awarded the Washington Association for Career Counseling and Employment Readiness (WA-CCER) Administrator of the Year award.

Gaddis was honored for his leadership and advocacy in bringing new CTE courses and programs to Hanford High during his eight years overseeing CTE. New additions include Computer Science, Kinesiology, AVID, American Sign Language, Metals Aerospace Core Plus, and, most recently, JROTC.

Gaddis has been a strong supporter of inclusive practices, advocating for both staff and students. For over 12 years, he has championed the CTE Work-Based Learning transition program at Hanford High, empowering staff with a clear vision and helping students gain valuable job-readiness skills through community work experiences.

Kiley Paksoy, CTE Work-Based Learning Coordinator and Special Education teacher at Richland High School, was awarded the WA-CCER New CTE Teacher of the Year.

Paksoy was honored for her significant contributions toward CTE programs as a new CTE teacher. During her first year as a CTE teacher, Paksoy placed and supervised more than 17 students in jobs within the community, supporting students with disabilities in gaining valuable job-readiness skills.  This past year Paksoy served Work Based Learning students at Richland High School. She has worked to develop employment opportunities tailored to her students' individual needs, while fostering positive relationships with local employers.

“Mrs. Paksoy has made a positive difference in my son’s life,” said a parent of a work based learning student. “Her high expectations, along with kindness and support, have helped him see that he is capable of more than he realized.”