Partners in Potential
May 2026 – Who comes to mind when you think of a teacher?
Someone who showed up for you. Someone who helped you see what you could do next.
Education is the cornerstone of our workforce system — an ecosystem where people and partner organizations work together so individuals and communities can stay healthy and stable.
“Workforce” doesn’t sound very warm. But at its core, it’s about people showing up where they’re needed, building something they’re proud of, and being able to support themselves and their families. It’s about applying skills to real needs in the world. And before any of that can happen, someone has to help us figure out what those skills are in the first place.
Most people have had someone who helped them see what they were good at, or what they could do next. A teacher. Someone who answered a calling rooted in both compassion and education — and who measures success in the growth of others.
SkillSource teachers meet students where they are today. And “today” can look very different from one person to the next.
It might mean showing up without consistent access to food, housing, or transportation. It might mean navigating the justice system, or trying again after a school experience that didn’t work. It might mean having no one at home to help map out what comes next.
A SkillSource teacher is often the first adult who treats someone like they still have options.
They adjust pace. They circle back. They connect learning to real work and real life. They help students explore their own “why” and take the next step — whether that’s earning a GED or diploma, exploring career pathways, or simply staying engaged long enough to see what’s possible.
Some students arrive with their hood up, quiet and closed off. Months later, they’re standing in front of a room full of people, sharing their story. Years later they return to update their teachers on their milestones, like a new job or a home purchased.
The classroom doesn’t stop at instruction. It stretches to include wraparound support for basic needs, consistency, and the kind of personalized guidance that helps people keep going.
Earlier this year, SkillSource recognized the Okanogan, Othello, and Wenatchee School Districts leaders – Roy Johnson, Josh Tovar, and Kory Kalahar – with the inaugural Workforce Champion Award as an acknowledgment of those who show up every day as essential partners in this work.
Teacher Appreciation Week is a chance to recognize the people who have chosen this path. The ones who invest their time, energy, and attention into helping others build skills, confidence, and direction.
Most people can point to someone who helped them see what was possible. And for those who haven’t had that yet, our doors are open. SkillSource staff are here to help you find your next step.
To the SkillSource teachers in Omak, Wenatchee, Moses Lake, and Othello — and to every person dedicated to this calling — we see you, and we thank you.
