Employee Awards

To be eligible for a Crystal Apple award, the nominee must be a certified employee and meet the following criteria.

1. Individuals nominated previously may be nominated again; previous award recipients may not. 
2. Nominees must be classroom teachers or other certificated employees—such as counselors, librarians, nurses, administrators or psychologists with a valid and current teaching credential or OSPI-issued certification (valid for the 2025-2026 school year)—who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in education. 
3. Individuals nominated must have been full-time employees with the Yakima School District for the last two years.

All nominations are due by April 17, 2026, at 4:00 PM.

Click Here To Nominate

To be eligible for a Shining Star award, the nominee must be a classified employee and meet the following criteria. 

1. All classified employees, including directors, are eligible to be nominated for this award. 
2. Previous winners are not eligible for this award. 
3. Any person may nominate a classified employee (with the exception of the nominee’s evaluator). Recommendations may be completed by any staff member, student, parent, evaluator or community member.
4. A nominee must be a regular contracted employee for at least two years as of April 23, 2026.  A nominee must be in good standing and approved for advancement in the process by both their evaluator and by the Human Resources department.

All nominations are due by April 17, 2026, at 4:00 PM.

Click Here To Nominate

Presented by the Yakima Schools Foundation, this award recognizes a community member who makes a positive impact on students' lives and empowers them to achieve academic and personal success.

Click Here To Nominate

The Excellence In Education Awards Ceremony will be held at YV-Tech on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 5:00 PM. The cost was $5.00 per person. Nominees, their guests, Yakima School District students (with ID), and children five and under attended for free.

Click Here to View the Past Winners of the Crystal Apple Award

The business community awards the annual Crystal Apple awards for Yakima School District certificated employees like teachers, counselors, etc.

Click Here to View the Past Winners of the Shining Star Award

Our Shining Star award, known historically as the classified employee of the year award has been awarded to over 150 employees in the Yakima School District. We look forward to adding more to the list this year!