Business and education leaders from around Clark County gathered on October 16 at WSU Vancouver to present the Live Here, Learn Here awards for 2023. Jeanie Moran was honored for her work volunteering in support of education in Washougal, and teacher Leslie DeShazer was honored for her work serving students with disabilities in our preschool programs.
Making sure that students with disabilities have equal access to learning is at the foundation of the work Leslie DeShazer puts forth within the Washougal School District each day. She works with children in early learning programs to help prepare them for kindergarten. From sometimes before birth to five years old, Leslie offers these kids and parents additional help to ensure that each individual child is receiving access to the resources necessary to arrange a proper fit in their individual educational journeys. Not only this, but as the vice president of the teacher’s union in Washougal, Leslie goes above and beyond to offer additional support to teachers while also advocating for equal opportunities for teachers and students alike. Whether it be offering direct in-home assistance, getting students enrolled in special education preschools, or offering direct assistance by means of educating and offering resources to parents, Leslie ensures that families know they are not alone and that their kids are going to get the tools necessary to help them succeed.
A former teacher of twenty-one years, Jeanie Moran now volunteers her time to support the students of her community. By means of various fundraising efforts such as STRIDE and the Washougal Festival of Trees, Jeanie helps brighten the community while also securing additional funds to support the teachers and students of the Washougal School District. Outside of her efforts to bring the community together in support of the schools, Jeanie also offers her time to the Canyon Creek Middle School Boosters and volunteers as a reading buddy for students as well. In all, Jeanie states that children are at the heart of all she does. She feels that the incredible people that she gets to interact with make her time volunteering all that much more worthwhile, but that you ultimately “get back more than you give” along the way. The ultimate reward for Jeanie is watching the kids of her community grow and thrive.
Thank you to Identity Clark County for honoring our local heroes and making this amazing recognition possible.