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Profile: MICHELLE WHITNEY

Nearly a decade ago, when Michelle Whitney took over as superintendent of Pasco School District 1 in Washington, she embarked with the school board to set measurable goals for the school district. Conventional targets were the expectation 鈥� 75 percent of students reading on grade level or passing algebra. Whitney rejected the conventional outright.

鈥淲hich 25 percent are we going to give up on?鈥� she remembers asking her board. 鈥淭hat was deeply personal to me because I was part of the 25 percent that wasn鈥檛 easy to teach.鈥�

This exchange became the district鈥檚 so-called 鈥淥utrageous Outcomes.鈥� It aims for 100 percent of students to read on grade level by 3rd grade; succeed in algebra and be on track to graduate by 9th grade; graduate with a career path; and experience meaningful connections.

For Whitney, the desire to support all students in the 18,900-student system stems from her own childhood. She grew up in what she describes as a 鈥淛erry Springer kind of complicated鈥� family system in and around Pasco. Childhood teachers, college educators and colleagues in Pasco schools, where she鈥檚 spent her entire 30-year career, changed her trajectory.

That experience and the mentorship she received have helped her develop a servant leadership style rooted in gratitude and driven by a personal narrative that aims to connect with and inspire others. 鈥淚t is not lost on me every day that I am in this chair because people invested in me,鈥� Whitney says. 鈥淎nd I promised that if I was ever in a position where I could give back and I could do the same for someone else, I would.鈥�

As superintendent, Whitney鈥檚 steady commitment to universal student success has become embedded in the district鈥檚 culture, says Sarah Thornton, Pasco鈥檚 assistant superintendent of legal services.

鈥淏y speaking to that mindset, she鈥檚 setting that expectation for staff throughout the system, and it really becomes a core value that is not just hers. It is a core value that we look for in our staff,鈥� Thornton says. 鈥淏y doing that, throughout the system, that reaches kids and helps change the culture for kids.鈥�

Whitney鈥檚 also relatable and approachable with staff, families and especially students, Thornton says. In fact, through her Superintendent Student Advisory Council, Whitney actively seeks students鈥� input. The group includes 40 to 50 high school students who have helped develop the Outrageous Outcomes and advised on other district work. 鈥淚鈥檓 in service to kids,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his is their experience, and how do I know if it鈥檚 meeting the mark if I never ask them?鈥�

Isaac Marroquin, a former council member, was a 9th grader when he first met Whitney during her first year as superintendent. He mentioned living on Pasco鈥檚 outskirts with a 90-minute bus ride to school. Immediately, Whitney told him students in his neighborhood often were on her mind during winter storms when deciding about cancellations or delays.

鈥淚 knew, in that one instant, that this was someone who cared about students,鈥� says Marroquin, a son of Salvadoran immigrants. 鈥淪he saw me as more than just a number on a chart or a statistic. I was a student who mattered.鈥�

Throughout high school, Whitney encouraged Marroquin鈥檚 interest in teaching and even suggested he consider becoming Pasco鈥檚 superintendent one day. He鈥檚 now on that path. 鈥淪he really has been not just a mentor, but a great teacher 鈥� someone who鈥檚 inspired me to dream bigger than I could ever dream to be,鈥� says Marroquin, who recently finished his master鈥檚 degree in teaching.

For Whitney, recently named her state鈥檚 superintendent of the year, stories like Marroquin鈥檚 are why she shares the struggles from her own childhood with students. 鈥淲hen another kid says, 鈥榖ecause you told your story, I know I can,鈥� that鈥檚 what makes it all worth it,鈥� she says.

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall is a freelance education writer in Raleigh, N.C.