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OLYMPIA—September 28, 2024—At a live ceremony in Olympia today, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) named the 2025 State Teacher of the Year and the 2024 State Classified School Employee of the Year.
Kim Broomer, the 2025 State Teacher of the Year, is a kindergarten teacher at Ruby Bridges Elementary School in the Northshore School District, and represents Puget Sound Educational Service District 121. Geancarla “Carla” Shanks Morales, the 2024 State Classified School Employee of the Year, is a paraeducator and Student and Family (SAFE) Advocate at Orcas Island Elementary School in the Orcas Island School District, and represents Northwest Educational Service District 189.
Both Broomer and Shanks Morales will move forward to the national competition for their awards. Broomer will compete for the National Teacher of the Year award. Shanks Morales will compete for the national Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) award, administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Both winners will be announced in Spring 2024.
“Across the state, Washington’s teachers and classified employees show up to our public schools each day with a relentless dedication to supporting their students,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. “Each year, my office has the privilege of celebrating two of these outstanding educators—and it’s an honor to recognize Kim and Carla today. These two educators work every day to make each student feel supported, included, and cared for; nurturing a love of school and of learning in every student they cross paths with.”
Kim Broomer, 2025 State Teacher of the Year
Kim Broomer has served as a kindergarten teacher for her entire 22-year career in education, teaching for the past four years at Ruby Bridges Elementary School. Broomer was one of the foundational teachers in the opening of Ruby Bridges, which is a fully inclusive school and an inclusionary practices demonstration site.
“It is rare to experience the kind of teaching that both inspires hope and feels like a bit of magic is in the air—this is what you get when you enter kindergarten with Kim Broomer,” said Cathi Davis, Principal of Ruby Bridges Elementary School.
Each day, Broomer makes an ongoing commitment to creating a supportive classroom environment where each and every student feels valued and respected. Broomer provides differentiated instruction to each student and maintains open lines of communication with parents and caregivers.
“Mrs. Broomer normalized differences and different modes of education and intentionally worked with each learner,” said Ana Maria, the parent of one of Broomer’s students. “In her classroom, all are loved. It is a microcosm of how the world should be.”
Geancarla “Carla” Shanks Morales, 2024 State Classified School Employee of the Year
Geancarla “Carla” Shanks Morales has spent half of her 8-year career in education supporting the students at Orcas Island Elementary School as a SAFE (Student and Family) Advocate and Reading Paraeducator Specialist. Shanks Morales leads weekly classes for students on social-emotional learning and leads small groups of students teaching foundational reading skills.
“Carla’s teaching practices and ability to form relationships with students set her apart from others,” said Alexa Nigretto, a teacher at Orcas Island Elementary School. “Carla makes our school special. Students love connecting with her and you can tell she really cares about connecting with them.”
With an immigration story of her own, Shanks Morales works hard every day to make all students and families feel seen, valued, heard, and welcomed. In addition to her work with students, Shanks Morales communicates directly with multilingual families and teaches a class to support both English and Spanish speaking families in building their children’s futures.
“Seeing her smiling face makes me happy, and like I really belong here,” said one of Shanks Morales’ students whose family immigrated to the U.S. “Seeing her with such an important job makes me feel hopeful that I can be a strong person, and also do good work like her.”
2025 Regional Teachers of the Year
- Teena Vaderholm, Washtucna Elementary and High School, Washtucna School District, Educational Service District (ESD) 101
- Lauren Thomas, Toppenish High School, Toppenish School District, ESD 105
- Rachel Lake, Ilwaco High School, Ocean Beach School District, ESD 112
- Andrew Landowski, Black Hills High School, Tumwater School District, ESD 113
- Kristyne York, James Taylor High School, North Mason School District, ESD 114
- Kim Broomer, Ruby Bridges Elementary School, Northshore School District, ESD 121
- Kristy Bishop, Moses Lake High School, Moses Lake School District, ESD 171
- Kelly Guilfoil, Lake Stevens High School, Lake Stevens School District, ESD 189
2024 Regional Classified School Employees of the Year
- Tammy Ward, Mary Walker School District, ESD 101
- Erica Aparicio, Yakima Public Schools, Yakima School District, ESD 105
- Zach Claypool, Lexington Elementary School, Kelso School District, ESD 112
- Kathi Dahlstrom, Wishkah Valley School District, ESD 113
- Carrie Johnson, Greywolf Elementary, Sequim School District, ESD 114
- Julie Herdt, Tukwila School District, ESD 121
- Maria Valle, Quincy School District, ESD 171
- Geancarla “Carla” Shanks Morales, Orcas Island Elementary School, Orcas Island School District, ESD 189