My Highline Story
From the bus garage to the lunchroom and everywhere in between—our school support staff members are often Highline's unsung heroes, ensuring our schools run smoothly and students have what they need to graduate prepared for the future they choose.
Every day, but especially this week, we commend our school support staff members for the kindness, compassion and dedication they bring to their jobs every day.
These individuals include our paraeducators, custodians, bus drivers and monitors, nutrition services staff, office staff, interpreters, school nurses, facilities and grounds crews, maintenance and operations staff, recess monitors, technology staff, safety and security staff and more.
In honor of Education Support Professionals Week, we turn our spotlight on two of our dedicated support staff and learn what drives them to serve our students.
Theo White, Dispatcher & Bus Driver, Transportation
If your student has ever taken the bus in Highline, there is a good chance Theo White has been behind the wheel at some point. Theo began his journey as a bus driver in Highline nearly eight years ago.
After a few years, he transitioned to the role of dispatcher, ensuring students have what they need to get to and from school safely each day.
"I love working with the kids on a daily basis," Theo says. "One day you're driving preschoolers, and then you watch them develop and see them grow up and be ready to graduate."
There are still days Theo hops behind the wheel to fill in for other drivers. He has driven nearly every route in Highline, interacting with and making an impact on thousands of students.
Rann Sann, Paraeducator, Mount View Elementary
As a refugee from Cambodia, Rann began her journey in Highline as a student at Evergreen High School. Rann credits her language arts teacher for spending countless hours before and after school, helping her learn English and navigate a new culture.
After graduating from Evergreen, Rann landed a job supporting a preschool program at Hazel Valley Elementary.
“I'm here not just for the students. I want to be here for families as well," Rann says. "I want to support them, to advocate for them, and to close the gap between the language and culture barriers.”
Fast forward 36 years, Rann is a bilingual paraeducator at Mount View Elementary and supports families and students with the same compassion and zest as she did when she first started.