Two outstanding educators are representing northeast Washington in this year’s statewide Educator Awards.
Emma Trayte of Pullman Public Schools has been named the 2026 Regional Classified School Employee of the Year, while Gretchen Cruden of Orient School District has been named the 2027 Regional Teacher of the Year.
Both will be recognized during the Educator of the Year Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10:30 a.m.-noon at Capital High School in Olympia.
Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction uses a two-step process for both awards. Educators are first recognized as regional honorees through the state’s educational service districts. One regional recipient from each program is then selected as Washington’s state honoree and moves forward as the state’s nominee for national recognition.
Emma Trayte: Relationships That Make a Difference
Trayte is a special education paraeducator at Lincoln Middle School in Pullman Public Schools, where she works with students in the Developmental Learning Center.
Her approach begins with building trust and understanding the individual needs of each student. She also serves as an afternoon bus aide, creating connections with students across grade levels in a setting that can sometimes be noisy, crowded and overwhelming.
Trayte’s application illustrates how those everyday relationships can lead to meaningful support. After noticing a student crying on the bus, she listened, identified concerns and collaborated with school staff to connect the student with counseling, basic necessities and other resources. She later reported seeing the student become happier and more successful at school.
Her work is a powerful example of the essential role classified employees play in supporting students both academically and personally.
Gretchen Cruden: Connecting Learning With Life
Cruden teaches grades 6-8 and serves as principal at Orient School District, a small rural K-8 community in northeast Washington.
Because she often teaches students across multiple years and subjects, Cruden has the opportunity to build long-term relationships with students and families. Her approach blends rigorous academics with trauma-informed instruction, social-emotional learning and place-based experiences connected to students’ rural lives and community.
Among her signature projects is Room 180, a trauma-informed social-emotional learning novel and curriculum co-developed with an educational psychologist. Students combine literature, writing and neuroscience while learning practical strategies for understanding and regulating their emotions.
Her classroom also extends well beyond school walls. Students explore local careers, visit businesses, run a seedling business, raise salmon for release into local waterways and learn about energy and conservation through partnerships with community organizations and agencies.
Join the Celebration
Community members, colleagues, friends and family are invited to cheer on Emma and Gretchen during the statewide ceremony.
Educator of the Year Ceremony
📅 Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
⏰ 10:30 a.m.-noon
📍 Capital High School Performing Arts Center
Watch the ceremony live
Learn more about OSPI Educator Awards