Each year the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA)
recognizes community members or groups in recognition of their
outstanding contributions to education.
Dori Tate, who has been active for years as a volunteer with school
PTAs, the Puyallup PTA Council, the Washington State PTA, and her
community, has been selected as the 2015 WASA Region 111 Community
Leadership Award winner.
WASA presents the award based on criteria in the following
categories: benefit to students, leadership, motivation, success,
cooperation and coordination with the local district, recognition by
others, and history of service.
In a letter nominating Tate for the award, Superintendent Tim Yeomans
attached a detailed list of her many volunteer roles over the years and
wrote, “In addition to the attached information detailing her
outstanding commitment to PTA, I would like to nominate Dori Tate for
this recognition for her relentless commitment to our children, and for
her efforts to mobilize the parents of the community, through PTA, to
support and promote a healthy and nurturing educational environment for
our children.”
Yeomans added, “She is an outstanding partner for the Puyallup School
District in helping to communicate effectively with the parents of
our students and the community at large. Her service at the school,
district, regional, and state level in PTA is unmatched by anyone in our
area.”
The Puyallup School Board honored Tate during its June 1 meeting, and
the audience responded with a standing ovation. Directors shook hands
with the longtime school volunteer and presented her with the engraved
plaque that she first received in May at the WASA regional meeting.
Recognizing years of leadership
Tate began as a school volunteer in 1996 when her oldest of two sons
started kindergarten at Zeiger Elementary School. Within three years,
she was named the school’s PTA committee chair, marking the beginning of
what has been another 16 years of leadership to local school PTAs, the
Puyallup PTA Council, and the Washington State PTA.
Tate’s two sons, Ian and Colin, attended Zeiger Elementary, Ballou
Junior High, and Rogers High schools. Tate remained active with each of
their elementary and junior high school PTAs, serving in leadership
roles including president and membership chair.
She also served for many years, including this past school year, as
Puyallup PTA Council president. The Council oversees all PTA units in
the Puyallup School District.
This year Tate will serve as the council’s outgoing president and
secretary. Since 2004 she has also helped as its auction chair,
co-membership chair, school district liaison, and webmaster.
Tate’s calendar has been just as full the past 11 years volunteering
with the Washington State PTA. This past year, the Puyallup resident
served as a leadership director, “PTA & the Law” training presenter,
and an executive committee board member.
She will continue to serve this year as the state’s leadership
director, overseeing trainings for all elected PTA officers in
Washington and helping with the annual state convention next spring.
Tate has also agreed to serve on more than a dozen other state PTA
posts since 2004, including vice president, Region 5 director, and
membership director.
Districtwide, the Puyallup resident served on the 2003 and 2012
superintendent search committees. She also helped over the years with
the elementary and junior high boundary committees, as well as a parent
involvement policy committee, health policy committee, and safety
advisory committee.
Passionate about reading, Tate began in 2010 and continues today as a
volunteer with the Communities In Schools of Puyallup Good Samaritan
Readers program. She started her service at Karshner Elementary and
continues this year helping Sunrise Elementary students.
Volunteers like Tate commit one hour each week to help students in grades one through three who struggle with reading.
“Once you get kids to realize what reading is and you make it
something they want to do rather than a chore, you get them hooked
forever,” Tate said.
Tate has won numerous awards and recognitions, including a Zeiger
Elementary, Ballou Junior High, and Puyallup PTA Council Golden Acorn
Award. This top PTA award is presented to a volunteer in recognition of
his or her dedication and service to children and youth.
Tate said she is proud that lines of communication have been opened
over the years between the school district, PTA groups, and parents.
“We want to be a resource to help parents navigate the waters of
public education so it’s less scary when they first come into the
system,” she said. “The wonderful thing about PTA is there is always a
place for anyone who wants to volunteer or needs help.”