The Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) Board of Directors has been recognized as a Board of Distinction for the sixth year in a row.

This year, FWPS is one of 34 school districts who received the award. There are 295 school boards across Washington state that can apply for the distinction.

The FWPS Board of Directors were recognized for “exemplary evidence of ongoing professional development, addressing opportunity gaps, and practicing governance that reflects the Washington School Board Standards,” according to Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) who granted the award.

“It’s been an honor to receive the Board of Distinction for six years in a row,” said FWPS Board President Geoffery McAnalloy. “As a board, we are committed to the success of each and every scholar in Federal Way Public Schools. We continue to see growth and success, even with the impacts of the pandemic — high graduation rates, increased student voice and family engagement, and more early learning opportunities.”

As a Board, McAnalloy said, they will continue policy work to keep a focus on equity, continuous improvement, and providing each graduating student with the academic knowledge and 21st century skills necessary succeed as a responsible citizen.

“We are 100% committed to the success of each and every scholar in the district,” said Superintendent Dr. Dani Pfeiffer. “This award is well-deserved and highlights hard work and dedication of our staff and the sponsorship of the FWPS Board of Directors. I’m fortunate to work alongside this group of individuals who are wholly focused on our scholars.”

The Board of Distinction application is a rigorous process that provides evidence of the board of directors’ work in partnership with the superintendent and how their actions helped their school districts close opportunity gaps.

Federal Way’s Board of Directors’ application showed how they positively impacted student success in three key areas:

• How the board engaged in professional development to support the success of the school district.

• How the board supported closing opportunity gaps.

• How the board of directors ensured district information and decisions were clearly communicated across the community.

Data included in the application also showed how the board is addressing opportunities gaps and supporting the success of Federal Way scholars.

This includes demonstrated growth among multiple racial groups in scholars entering kindergarten ready in all 6 domains, according to WAKids data.

The FWPS district also has increased completion rates of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA), about 20% higher than the state average. Students of all races are taking more dual credit and advanced courses than in nearby districts, according to FWPS.

The FWPS Board of Directors will be honored with other Board of Distinction award winners on Nov. 19 at the WSSDA Annual Conference. The association will also announce the 2021 Boards of the Year winners.