Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator Carla Feltz
Vancouver Public Schools’ Carla Feltz has been selected for Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools’ 2019 Honor Roll. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that champion sustainable, healthy school environments. Feltz is one of 17 honorees.
In her role as community outreach and engagement coordinator, Feltz has supported 14 schools in promoting health and wellness efforts such as using healthy snacks or additional recesses to reward positive behavior. Through a partnership with Kaiser and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, eight of the schools each received $5,000 grants to support the efforts, which also included staff room makeovers to provide employees with a place to decompress, reflect and prepare healthy meals. Five additional schools have started the process this year and are now conducting wellness assessments. The partnership also has enabled staff trainings on resilience and self-care and other professional development opportunities.
In addition, Feltz’s work connects families to their children’s schools and the district. She supports family events and coordinates a parent advisory group that provides input to the district. Feltz also is instrumental in the coordination of the annual Go Ready Back-to-School-Readiness Festival and Write from the Start School Supply Drive.