2022 Legislator of the Year Award

After a statewide nomination process, Washington STEM has selected Representative Dave Paul (10th LD) as the 2022 Legislator of the Year.

 

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Representative Dave Paul’s (10th LD) leadership in dual credit data reporting will result in evidence-based improvements for postsecondary readiness and for credential attainment, particularly for Black, Brown, Indigenous, rural, and low-income students. Dual credit is a key lever we can push in order to attain our goals to ensure Washington students are career- and future-ready.Jenée Myers Twitchell PhD
Chief Impact and Policy Officer, Washington STEM

Congratulations to the 2022 Legislator of the Year

Representative Dave Paul

Representative Dave Paul

Representative Paul represents the Whidbey Island area and serves on the College & Workforce Development committee. He was selected for his strong leadership and efforts to increase access to Dual Credit during the 2022 legislative session as the prime sponsor for priority legislation HB 1867: Dual Credit Program Data. Read the press release here.

Representative Paul has a background working in higher education, most notably spending the last 14 years at Skagit Valley College, and has a passion for helping non-traditional students navigate a changing employment landscape. He continues to be a champion and partner in STEM education.

HB 1867 requires dual-credit data reporting including information about course completion and successful transcription of credit. The legislation also ensures that all measures are available by race, income, gender, geography, and other demographics. This reporting will help inform state policy recommendations for closing dual credit gaps from the moment students attempt a course all the way through to postsecondary progress. HB 1867 was signed into law by Governor Inslee.

Thank you for your sponsorship of HB 1867. Your work will have a lasting impact on access to dual credit programs across the state.

Learn more about Washington STEM’s ongoing work to support Dual Credit programs here, or check out our Equitable Dual Credit Toolkit to see how we’re helping practitioners explore and address disparities in Dual Credit participation.

 

About the Legislator of the Year Awards

Legislators must demonstrate an awareness of and interest in equity in STEM education, actively engage in Washington STEM’s focus areas, and advocate for improved policies and practices.

Washington STEM’s Legislator of the Year Award is presented annually to members of the State Legislature who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in advancing legislation and policies that promote excellence, innovation, and equity in science, technology, engineering, and math education for all Washington students, especially those furthest from opportunity.

To be considered for the award, legislators must demonstrate an awareness and interest of equity in STEM education in their respective communities, actively engage in Washington STEM’s two focus areas- Career Pathways and Early STEM, and advocate for improved policies and practices as they relate to STEM education.

 

Washington STEM Advocacy

During the 2022 Washington legislative session, Washington STEM, alongside our STEM Network partners, continued to advance our policy priorities with Washington students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, and rural students at the center of those efforts.

In the 2022 legislative session, we supported proposals, bills, and initiatives that strengthened and created educational opportunities for historically underserved students in our state, investments that are sorely needed to improve access to the critical programs, technology, and supports that every student needs to advance their education.

Read more at the 2022 legislative Session Recap blog.