Backbone & Partners

Our Backbone: Heritage University

Heritage University is serving as the backbone for YV Partners for Education. Our mission is closely aligned with the purpose of this initiative and as an institution of higher education many of our alumni are working in the Valley. In addition, one of our strategic priorities is community partnerships in which we extend our supports to join with others to improve educational outcomes for the Valley.

Suzy Diaz is serving as the collective impact director on behalf of Heritage University.

Partners

School Districts are central to our work and include: Grandview, Sunnyside, and Mabton. We are a community-wide collaborative, represented by cross-sector organizations that include: housing, transportation, police, civic engagement, community-based organizations, among others.

Henry Strom, Superintendent

Grandview School District is the anchor school district of this initial project. When asked who they’d include in this initial phase they enthusiastically nominated Mabton and Sunnyside School Districts. Together, the partnering school districts undertake this journey and welcome your participation. “Grandview School District, in partnership with Yakima Valley Partners in Education, strives to cultivate a culture of collaboration that will support a systemic approach to building Equitable systems for all scholars, particularly for those furthest from educational justice, in order to meet the demands of an ever-changing community.”-Henry Strom

Kevin McKay, Superintendent

“We are very excited to be a partner in such important work for all children of the Yakima Valley. We are also looking forward to strengthening our relationships with the numerous community partners, the Mabton and Grandview School Districts.”