May 4-8 marks Licensed Appreciation Week for our agency and schools around the state. Our licensed staff continue to show up with heart and dedication. 

Here are just some of the way these ~350 team members make a difference for kids -- day in and day out at Northwest Regional Education Service District:

• Licensed staff are the experts behind the impact. They span 36 specialties -- and include teachers, therapists, psychologists, nurses, speech-language pathologists, specialists, coaches and autism consultants -- just to name a few. 
• They guide children through big milestones like taking their first step, saying their first word or making their first friend. 
• They co-design with educators across our region so that schools have more students attending regularly, reading proficiently and staying on track to graduate. Their expertise reverberates throughout the state and travels far beyond a single classroom.  
• They give non-verbal children a voice with assistive technology, teach students who are blind or low vision how to safely cross the streeet, help children navigate mental health challenges and equip autistic children with skills to reach goals that are meaningful for them. 
• They partner with families, schools, and communities — bridging services, building trust, and serving as trusted navigators.

If you'd like to help us celebrate, please share appreciation this week in a way that feels authentic to you. You can send handwritten notes or emails or personally thank them. You can also share more publicly if you'd like by posting photos on social media and using the #proud2bnwresd hashtag or emailing photos to our communications team.

Let the festivities begin! 🎉