Current & Former Honorees

Dr. Wendy Birhanzel is honored to be Colorado's 2023 Superintendent of the Year. She serves as the Superintendent of Harrison School District 2 and a parent of a Sierra High School graduate. She has served more than 20 years in public education throughout California and Colorado. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership in Urban School Settings from the University of Southern California. Her passion is ensuring a high-quality education experience for every student and opening doors to opportunities and success. In her work, she advocates for necessary school funding and bringing a voice to students and staff. In decision making she always asks, “what did the students say?”

During her time as a Principal, Dr. Birhanzel led two different schools to be honored with National Blue Ribbon Awards and named National Title I Distinguished Schools. Moving into her role as Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Officer, she helped build up programming to support students through a rigorous curriculum for all students. Dr. Birhanzel was awarded the Mayor’s Young Leader Award from the city and the Young Alumni Achievement Award from her college for her educational impact.

In her current role as Superintendent, Dr. Birhanzel works collaboratively with staff to offer students an excellent academic experience and opportunities such as free college, free technology, free athletics and activities, free before and after school care, free college, free breakfast and lunch, and free tutoring. Under her leadership, the district passed a $180 million bond leading to twenty buildings being renovated and 3 new schools being built. She has also partnered with the community to ensure wrap-around supports such as mental health care, food security, and housing are provided for all families. Her passion is supporting the whole child and family in the community. During her tenure, the district was named the best educational workplace and has had the highest staff retention rates.

Dr. Birhanzel advocates for educational funding and ways to create opportunities for students. She serves on several local and national boards to provide a voice for educators including but not limited to YMCA, RISE, Mayor’s leadership, Junior Achievement, Joint Initiatives, and Youth Transformation. Recently she has been named 1 of 22 to watch in ’22 by the Southeast Express, a Woman Making a Difference by the League of Women’s Voters, and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Transformational Leader by Colorado Springs Business Journal. Each day she reflects on how decisions make better outcomes for students.

Alicen Gaytley, Director of Teaching & Learning at Quincy School District, leads the district’s efforts in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning for the rural community of Quincy, Washington.

Before stepping into district leadership, Alicen was an elementary school teacher and instructional coach who earned a National Board Certification in English as a New Language, a regional Excellence Award, and served on the Washington State ASCD Board of Directors.

Her journey into education, however, was far from conventional. Growing up, Alicen wanted to be a teacher but went on to earn a bachelor’s degree with a double major in History and East Asian Studies. She began her early career in the staffing and recruitment industry, working as a Business Development Manager in Seattle, San Diego, and Tokyo, while earning her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. This experience gave her valuable insights into training, development, and organizational change management.

While living in Japan as part of the JET Program, Alicen rediscovered her passion for education. Teaching English in a rural Japanese high school reignited her commitment to the field, giving her firsthand experience with the challenges and rewards of learning and teaching a new language. Her time abroad broadened her global perspective, which now enriches her approach to educational leadership.

Alicen is a lead learner with a vision of building hope by creating equitable systems that empower students and educators with the agency to navigate pathways toward meaningful goals. She has published articles in statewide educational journals and has presented at many Washington statewide convenings on topics of school improvement, educational research, and curriculum development.

Alicen earned a master’s degree in elementary education alongside her husband, who is a fourth-grade teacher and the head chef in their home. Today, she continues to balance her leadership role with family life, as her two children continue their own educational journeys in middle and high school.