To deliver your best job performance, you need to function at your highest capability. Sometimes personal problems get in the way and your job performance suffers. To help you with these problems, the Kennewick School District offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through a contract with Compassionate Counseling of Tri-Cities to provide licensed, therapeutic counseling service to Kennewick School District employees and their families. The program offers confidential, professional help for many problems. Specialties include:

• Eating Disorders
• PTSD
• Sexual Abuse
• Sex Addiction
• Depression
• Stress and Anxiety
• Conflict Resolution
• Relationships
• Marriage and Family
• Religious, Spiritual or Inner Conflict

The purpose of the EAP is to provide access to counseling and referral services for employees of the Kennewick School District and their dependents who may be experiencing personal problems.

• Discussions are strictly between you and the counselor. Neither the organization nor co-workers will have any knowledge of self-referred requests for help. The school district is billed by case number; therefore, it is only known that the programs are being used, not who is using them.
• Four assessment visits are paid for by the school district per problem as a benefit for employees and their dependents. Your medical insurance may pay for a portion of ongoing counseling and inpatient treatment. Costs not covered by your insurance are your responsibility.
• The EAP counselor can provide assistance in locating community services that have fees based on your ability to pay.
• The Kennewick School District may refer you to the EAP.

If personal problems are interfering with your job, it makes good sense to seek help. 

To make an appointment, contact:

Ti Nelson, MSW, LSWAIC
Compassionate Counseling of Tri-Cities
(509) 492-7620

Vector Trainings

The district and school board recognizes three official appreciation weeks during the school year:

• Education Support Professionals Week
• Certificated Employee Appreciation Week
• School Retirees’ Appreciation Week

It is up to the discretion of the principal about celebrating or recognizing individual appreciation days for specific positions. 

Each spring, the district seeks nominations for:

• Staff Support Person of the Year (three awarded annually)
• Administrator of the Year
• Team of the Year
• Elementary Teacher of the Year
• Middle School Teacher of the Year
• High School Teacher of the Year
• Certificated Specialist of the Year
• Learner Profile Award
• Outstanding Community Partner of the Year Awards

The award winners are recognized during the all-staff welcome back assembly in August.

The district recognizes schools that have achieved district goals during the all-staff welcome back assembly in August.

Recognize a KSD staff member or one of our in-school partners for a job well done by submitting a KUDOS. KUDOS are generally emailed to all staff on Friday each week, starting after the first day of regular school year until the last week. 

Kudos must include:

• Your full name(s) and school/department
• The employee(s) full name(s) and school/department you are recognizing
• No more than three (3) sentences per kudos submitted (Have more to say? Email them directly. We're sure they will be appreciative of your kind words.)
• Correct spelling, grammar and punctuation 

Note: We reserve the right to edit kudos. Anonymous kudos or group names that do not include full names will not be included. 

Submit a Kudos

Teachers who complete the National Board Certification process are recognized at a school board meeting each year. A poster is also updated with the names of all current teachers who have completed the process. The poster is distributed to the schools.

The district holds an annual reception at the district administration center for all retiring employees. This year’s retirement ceremony will be held on May 21, 2025, 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the district administration center. Schools should avoid scheduling staff events during this time.

Each fall the district distributes employee years-of-service pins to schools and departments. These are distributed by the communications department in September/October. Years of Service Pins are offered for years 1, 5, 10, 20, 25 and 30.

The district has volunteer recognition pins that can be presented whenever the principal or supervisor decides to recognize volunteers during the school year. Order volunteer pins by contacting communications@ksd.org.