Richland High Educator and RSD Community Partner Honored with State CTE Awards

Join RSD in congratulating Richland High School’s Career Center Specialist and RSD’s community transportation partner who were honored with the Counseling and Career Development Professional award and Business Education Partnership award, respectively.

Stephanie Schirm, Career Center Specialist and Work Site Learning Coordinator at Richland High was recognized with the Washington Career Counseling and Employment Readiness (WACCER) Counseling and Career Development Professional award.

“Ms. Schirm has a tenacious commitment to connecting students with their career pursuits–through her numerous outreach events, partnerships with colleges and businesses, and her Worksite Learning connections,” says Laurie Price, Special Education Transition Services Specialist.

Throughout her 23 years as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher at RHS, Ms. Schirm has championed inclusionary practices, supporting all students to plan for their post-secondary career goals in her CTE classes and the Career & College Center.

The Counseling and Career Development Professional award is given to educators who have demonstrated commitment to connecting students with opportunities for success, shown innovation in career exploration and development, and have advocated for CTE as a viable option for all students.

Ben Franklin Transit was recognized for their work with RSD’s Community Based Transition Center and awarded the statewide WA ACTE Business-Education Partnership award.

For over 15 years, Ben Franklin Transit has been an invaluable partner for RSD’s CTE Work Site Learning transition students’ success, providing safe transportation for students to access their various community job sites.

“Richland School District’s Work Site Learning transition class and Ben Franklin Transit Dial-A-Ride have been unexpected gifts in our lives,” says an RSD special education parent. “The partnership with Ben Franklin Transit has opened doors for my daughter–doors of confidence in independently, safely navigating her community.”

ACTE’s Business-Education Partnership Awards were created for business and education leaders who understand that economic livelihood is linked to the success of career and technical education (CTE) programs.