News

Dr. Herndon delivers updates on the end of the school year, congratulating students and educators alike on a job well done in the 2025–26 school year.

ESD 113 has supported students' mental health and substance use needs for more than 30 years, providing a full continuum of care that connects students to prevention, intervention, and treatment services, regardless of location or insurance status.

ESD 113 has selected Scott Le Duc, a Media Arts and Career and Technical Education  teacher at Olympia School District’s Capital High School, as our 2027 Regional Teacher of the Year.

ESD 113 has selected Tom Harn, a paraeducator at North Thurston Public Schools’ South Bay Elementary, as our 2026 Regional Classified School Employee of the Year.

ESD 113 has named Brianne (Bri) Knighton as senior director of Expedition Behavioral Education. Bri comes to the role after serving as director of Pathfinder Services at Expedition and brings years of experience as a special education administrator and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst.

Through a grant program funded by the Washington State Department of Transportation in conjunction with Cascade Bicycle Club and the Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD), ESD 113 provides everything districts need to launch bicycle education—at no cost to the school. 

In conjunction with Schultz Farm and Millworks, Inc., Pacific Beach Elementary received $313,211 through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program to launch the Farms for Schools Project. 

For more than four decades, the Twin Cities Sertoma Club, based in Chehalis and Centralia, has funded speech and hearing services for Lewis County students. ESD 113’s Special Education Cooperative is one of three local programs that receive those grants, alongside the Centralia and Chehalis school districts.

Nurses from ESD 113's School Nurse Corps were recently invited to the Capitol to celebrate the signing of HB 2360, a bill that expands access to albuterol, a life-saving asthma medication, in public and private schools. 

Every year, the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) selects Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year winners at the elementary and secondary levels.

This month, ESD 113’s new Board of Directors Chair, Dr. Harry Carthum, begins a board recognition initiative named “Celebrations.” In March, we’re recognizing some of the longest-serving ESD employees!

Dr. Herndon delivers updates on the busyness of the spring season, the legislative session, and more.

Every year, the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) selects Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year winners at the elementary and secondary levels. This year, the ESD 113 region is home to Elementary winner, Kim Doughty, principal at Peter G. Schmidt Elementary in Tumwater. She shares sound advice for school leaders throughout our region. 

ESD 113’s Workers’ Compensation Trust supports safer workplaces through its Employee Safety Incentive Grant, offering eligible member districts up to $5,000 for safety improvements. From emergency response kits to safer equipment and improved communication tools, the grant helps districts reduce injuries, lower time-loss claims, and create safer environments for employees. Congratulations to this year’s recipients!

This month, ESD 113's Board of Directors recognized Simpson Elementary students with the In Their Element Award for their exceptional commitment to self-directed learning and academic growth.

For more than 20 years, ESD 113’s School Nurse Corps (SNC) has been the school health care backbone for communities across Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties. Today, the SNC serves 37 of the 44 districts in the region. 

At the January 2026 ESD 113 Board of Directors meeting, we welcomed two new board members. ESD board members serve four-year terms. Our board members bring their expertise and dedication to serve the students, families, and schools in our region

ESD 113's Board of Directors honors McCleary Associated Student Body (ASB) members for being In Their Element. Students volunteer at the McCleary Food Bank once a month, connecting directly with community members who need support.

This fall, Saint Martin University teacher preparation students gained deep insights into culturally responsive teaching through an immersive practicum in partnership with Shelton School District and the Squaxin Island Tribe.

We want to hear from you! Tell us about the great work happening in your classrooms, schools, and communities.

Six years ago, teacher Mario Pesacreta created a rumble at Boistfort School as he began reimagining what music education looked like for the rural school's students. Now, the ESD 113 Board of Directors is recognizing them for being In Their Element for all their growth.

Dr. Herndon delivers a message of renewal, hope, and optimism as we close out 2025 and look forward to 2026.

On December 16, ESD 113 will host a hiring fair for substitute paraeducators, custodians, and food service staff. Join us in Tumwater to learn more, received personalized support, and submit your application! 

Taholah School District marked a historic milestone on November 14, 2025, when community members, families, students, and partners gathered to celebrate the official groundbreaking for the district's new K–12 school.

At Pioneer Middle School, teacher Aaron Leth and students trade textbooks for butcher knives as they learn meat processing through an innovative field-to-table class that connects classroom learning to community needs and practical skills

The 5th grade leadership team at Grapeview School took the stage for the first time at the end of October to celebrate the month’s character trait awards and to teach students about the trait for November. Their presence was bigger than life in front of the whole school.

Sixty education professionals learned ransomware response strategies, tested AI crisis tools, and compared notes on actual cyberattacks at the ESD 113 administration building in Tumwater on November 7, 2025

Nutrition staff from several school districts in the ESD 113 Child Nutrition Cooperative gathered in October to test recipes, taste local ingredients, and learn strategies that make Farm-to-School programs sustainable.

Through a nine-person team with specialized training, the Co-op is addressing a critical gap. Families previously faced 18-month to two-year wait lists at specialized clinics. Now they wait only a matter of weeks. 

On October 23, the communications team at Educational Service District 113 received eight statewide awards from the Washington School Public Relations Association Communications Awards Program.

ESD 113 will be holding a special Board of Directors meeting on October 24, 2025 at 2 pm on Zoom.

On October 9, 2025, we welcomed over 1,400 students to the Satsop business park for this year's Try-a-Trade event. The workforce development event brought together labor unions, construction trades, apprenticeship programs, and industry professionals for hands-on learning.

ESD 113’s Digital Innovation program engaged 150 children in robotics at the Thurston County Fair, showcasing the Robot Lending Library that provides free access to robotics for classrooms. The program aims to demystify technology and build student confidence in STEM fields.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture awarded more than $140,000 to members of our Child Nutrition Cooperative through the 2025–27 Farm to School Purchasing Grant program

As we kick of the 2025–26 school year, ESD 113 would like to welcome our region's incoming superintendents! 

Join district and business leaders, technology professionals, and cybersecurity experts for learning, networking, and strategic cybersecurity planning at the Cybersecurity Summit this November in Tumwater, WA.

ESD 113's behavioral education programs achieved remarkable progress this year. Two professionals led these advances through dedication and evidence-based practices that prepare students for success