Local special education administrator wins Director of the Year award

In her 23rd year at Washakie County School District No. 1, Kim Sanford was recognized as the Director of the Year 2022 by the Wyoming Association of Special Education Administrators.

Sanford was chosen for the award by a majority vote from fellow special education directors from across the state. She said, "I definitely was excited to get the award; I wasn't expecting that at the state level. I definitely feel appreciative of that, and I had a lot of my fellow directors tell me that they nominated me because they appreciate the work that I put in. Some of them are within my region and I was one of the region reps, and they told me that they appreciated that they could call me any time and ask for advice. It was humbling but pretty exciting to know that my fellow directors appreciate what I'm doing."

Sanford has a long list of credentials to speak to her candidacy for this award. She has a background in special education beginning from her time in Florida teaching first through sixth graders with learning disabilities. She then moved to Jackson in 1993 where she spent several years in general education teaching at the third, fourth and fifth grade level.

Sanford moved with her family to Worland in 2000 and began teaching special education at Worland High School.

She said that the transition from special education at the elementary level to the high school level was a welcome challenge for her. Sanford said, "That was a change for me because I went from elementary to working on graduation goals but also life skills goals, in terms of helping the kids be ready for the workforce or tech school, or whatever it may be, so that was a rewarding piece also. They're not just moving on to another school, they are moving on to some big independence pieces."

In 2002, she earned her master's degree in administration and continued her career at the high school. She became the special education director during the 2011-2012 school year.

Sanford said that to begin with, this position was only part-time and included the part-time position of elementary principal. This arrangement did not last long because then superintendent, David Nicholas, soon approached her about the need for a full-time special education director in the school district.

After about a year, Sanford took on the role of full time director. She said, "I was ready for a new challenge, and started full time."

Sanford spoke about her time as an administrator, saying "It has been different, because I still get to be involved with parents which I really enjoy, and kids but not at the classroom level, it's more at meetings and things like that. I do miss teaching, it was my original career, but I like helping make policy and procedures and making sure that our whole team across the district, all the special education teachers and staff, are doing things in compliance and doing things focused on students' needs."

Sanford's dedication to aiding in student success no matter who they are is evident, and her 23 years of service to the community of Washakie County School District No. 1 have been deservedly recognized by winning the Director of the Year award.