This year’s Washington State Teacher of the Year – a Pasco High educator – is the keynote speaker at Washington State University Tri-Cities’ annual Education Summit.  

Gabriela Whitemarsh, winner of the statewide honor, is a bilingual mathematics teacher at Pasco High School, from which she also graduated.  

Her keynote address will highlight the importance of keeping human relationships at the center of teaching, especially amid technological change and disruption. 

The Oct. 10 summit is open to administrators and teachers and will cover a variety of issues and perspectives in K-12 education, spanning multiple tracks and professional development sessions under this year’s central theme, “The Connected Future: Integrating AI, Technology and the Human Work of Learning and Wellbeing.” 

Throughout Whitemarsh’s 18-year career, Whitemarsh has championed and advanced equitable access to education opportunities for students of all backgrounds.  

In 2018, she launched the Advanced Multilingual Mathematics Program, designed to help students new to the United States pursue college-level math courses while working toward English language proficiency.  

Participants will have the opportunity to earn up to six clock hours with STEM, Leadership and Equity options. 

The summit runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the WSU Tri-Cities campus in the Consolidated Information Center, 2780 Crimson Way in Richland. Doors will open at 8:45 a.m., and lunch will be provided. 

Those who plan to attend must register by Oct. 1. Registration costs $35 until Sept. 26, after which the price will increase to $45.  

Early registration is encouraged. Go to: tricities.wsu.edu/education/education-summit/ 

The event is hosted by the WSU Tri-Cities College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences.