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McKenzie Clark and Naomi Williams have been selected by Soroptimist International of La Conner (SILC) for the 2020 Dixie Otis Memorial Award: $2,000 grants to full time La Conner teachers who are concurrently pursuing their master’s degrees.

The award was created with memorial donations honoring the life of Dixie Otis, who died in December 2018.

Clark was hired as the band and choir director in 2016. He is working for a Master of Music in Music Education at Central Washington University. As a teacher who is also a student, he hopes to model life-long learning to his pupils. Williams, who has worked as a para educator with the district for eight years, has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and Forestry. She will earn her accelerated Master in Teaching from Seattle Pacific University, with the goal of joining the staff at LCSD as a classroom teacher.

Dixie grew up in La Conner and attended school here through graduation. Upon completion of her teaching certificate at (now) Western Washington University, she returned and was hired to teach in the position vacated by her own second grade teacher. Dixie’s career spanned more than thirty years, including an encore performance as a para educator after her first retirement.

For Dixie, education occurred in the classroom, on the field and court and in the heart. She ran an after school study hall program on the Swinomish Reservation, supported school sports programs and coached soccer. She loved children with an open heart.

Dixie was a charter member of Soroptimist International of La Conner from 1996 until her death. She was serving as club co-president at the time of her passing. She gave generously of her time and talent to all club activities.

Her death was deeply mourned by the community in town and on the Swinomish Reservation. At the family’s direction, memorial donations collected in her honor were given to SILC. The Swinomish also made a generous contribution to SILC in tribute to her friendship and support of tribal children.

The SILC Service and Awards committee decided to distribute the memorial funds with a set of four awards to current educators in the La Conner School District working toward their master’s degrees. Two more awards will be given in 2021. Considering Dixie’s teaching history and belief in education, it seemed like a perfect fit.

SILC is pleased to assist these teachers in Dixie’s memory. She touched so many lives; her good work continues.

Source: SILC