The Kelso School District Board of Directors has been recognized as a 2025 Board of Distinction by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA). Selected for their visionary leadership and commitment to closing opportunity gaps, Kelso’s board is one of 49 across the state to receive this honor.
To earn this distinction, boards must provide clear, evidence-based examples of how their actions have directly improved student outcomes. Kelso’s nomination centered around the district’s Freshman Student Success Team, a collaborative initiative that has transformed student achievement and increased graduation readiness.
Since launching in 2022, the Freshman Student Success Team has implemented early interventions, data-driven strategies, and whole-student systems of support for more than 350 ninth graders annually. As a result, Kelso’s 9th-grade on-track rate—the percentage of students earning six or more credits by the end of the school year—has risen dramatically from 66% in 2022 to 80% in 2025, marking a significant step toward higher graduation rates districtwide.
“This recognition reflects the heart of Kelso’s work—ensuring every student has the opportunity and support to succeed,” said Superintendent Mary Beth Tack. “Our board’s focus on data-informed decision-making and meaningful partnerships has created real, measurable change for our students.”
“We’re honored to once again be named a Board of Distinction because it validates the deep, on-going commitment our board and district have to student success,” said Board President Jeane Conrad.
This marks the third consecutive year Kelso’s board has been recognized by WSSDA, earning Board of Distinction honors in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, and being named Washington State Board of the Year in 2023.
This honor builds on a year of state and regional recognition for Kelso’s efforts to improve student achievement. The district also received the WASA Student Achievement Leadership Award (ESD 112 Region, May 2025) and the WASA Learning from Leaders Award (Washington State, June 2025) for its innovative work in supporting freshman success.
Kelso’s continued commitment to student-centered improvement is a cornerstone of its 2025 Strategic Plan, focused on closing opportunity gaps, fostering belonging, and preparing every graduate for life beyond high school.