Recognizing Dr. Laurie Dent

Floor Speech

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Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Dr. Laurie Dent, a standout educator in our South Sound community who was recently named the 2024 Superintendent of the Year by the Washington Association of School Administrators.

As Sumner-Bonney Lake School District's Superintendent since 2016, Dr. Dent has not only shepherded school communities through numerous challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but has also transformed schools' and individual students' performance trajectories through and in spite of pandemic-related challenges. Since the start of her tenure as Superintendent, the district's graduation rate has risen from 84 percent in 2016 to 92.1 percent in 2023, an achievement that her colleagues attribute to her staunch commitment to her ``100% Graduation Campaign.'' Beyond the numbers, Dr. Dent's commitment to this campaign has undoubtedly strengthened schools, enriched students, and deepened community connections.

I commend Dr. Dent for being a standard-bearer in our state for what excellence in education is and should be, and I am honored to spotlight her efforts in empowering local education professionals and supporting students' success in our South Sound community.

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