Each year through the Ken Gass Community Builder Awards, the Whatcom Family & Community Network (WFCN) recognizes an outstanding group of individuals, businesses, and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to building community and improving the lives of children, youth, and families. Recipients are selected not just for their specific acts of caring and service, but also because they embody the values of empowerment, asset-building, and respect for human dignity. They reflect our highest values and deepest commitment to the well-being of all members of the community.

We are extremely pleased to announce that Ferndale School District’s teacher/leader Alvaro Vicente has been chosen as a 2020 Ken Gass Community Builder Award recipient.

Alvaro Vicente grew up in a family of industrious farm workers whose first language was Spanish, so he understands at a personal level the challenges of attending school as an English Language Learner while also working alongside his family.

Several years after graduating from Ferndale High School in 2000, Alvaro returned as a staff member intent on creating a better experience for Latinx students and families. He was hired by the Ferndale School District 14 years ago to serve as tutor, graduation coach, and general supporter of the Latinx community. Since then his accomplishments have been many.

Alvaro grew the MEChA club at FHS to help Latinx students proudly celebrate their culture. He implemented Cultural Awareness classes to provide 70+ Latinx students per year with leadership opportunities in the high school and the community, everything from creating and putting on assemblies to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. to mentoring elementary students. He initiated an outreach program to help families navigate the school system. He began hosting law clinics in 2016 for those worried about immigration issues. He helped design a District Newcomer Center for ELL students. As a result of Alvaro’s efforts, the graduation rate of Latinx students in Ferndale has reached nearly 75%, almost double what it was when he started. Currently, he serves as a Department Chair at FHS, an ELL coordinator and coach, and an active member of the District Equity Committee.

Alvaro is a wonderful role model for students, a cherished lifeline for families, a relentless advocate for equity and inclusion, and a genuine difference maker in our community.

On December 10, Alvaro will be honored at the Whatcom Family & Community Network's 2020 Ken Gass Community Builder Awards virtual presentation. The event premiere will be shown online on Thursday, December 10, 2020 from 6:30-8:00 pm. Register for the 2020 Ken Gass Community Builder Awards virtual presentation.

The Ferndale School District joins WFCN in congratulating Alvaro Vicente and thanking him for the many positive ways he serves Ferndale High School and the community! Here are comments from a few of his co-workers:

“Alvaro is a fantastic colleague who adds value to the lives of students and co-workers alike. I have witnessed the effects of his work with students on numerous occasions. Specifically, two students from the class of 2016 and I were recently having a conversation before our English class started. They both attributed their growth and development as young adults to Alvaro. What a wonderful legacy!”
-Marty Moravich, Ferndale High School Leadership & English Teacher

“Alvaro is one of the most dedicated staff members at FHS. I know him to be a great friend and a valuable resource. I've had the honor of working with him for many years. Our work is very similar in the sense that we are both striving to help our students grow into who they will become in life. This is more than just a job for Alvaro. His work is about building a foundation and giving his students a sense of wellbeing within our school. This is one of the greatest things that anybody can do for their people. I have a lot of respect for this man. Hy'sxwqe si'am (Thank you, my friend.)”
-Smak i’ ya’ (Matt Warbus), Ferndale High School Lummi Language & Oksale Teacher

“As a new Executive Director in the Ferndale School District Office, I have the privilege of working with Alvaro to oversee our ELL programs. Both his knowledge and his passion for serving this segment of our student body are inspirational to me. I am thrilled his good work is being recognized with this award.”
-Faye Britt, Ferndale School District Executive Director of Teaching & Learning

“In education, we all have come across that special person who impacts our lives.  For some of us, it was a Math teacher, a counselor, a basketball coach, a bus driver, or the cafeteria staff member who always remembered to ask us about our day. What it boils down to is that we are impacted by those who reach out to make a personal connection with us. I have had the pleasure of watching Alvaro connect with so many of our students, and he absolutely has a gift for reaching out to our underrepresented kids in Ferndale. He is such a genuine and caring individual. He has been a role model for students who don’t typically see someone who looks like them in a role like his. I am both excited and proud that he is being honored with this special recognition.”
-David Rodriguez, Horizon Middle School Principal

“Alvaro Vicente’s work in the Ferndale School District is invaluable. In an era when ‘equity’ is everybody’s buzz word, he has made it more than rhetoric. I applaud his work with our Latinx and ELL students, but what I admire most is his commitment to ensuring every young person is supported in becoming his or her best self. We are lucky to have him on our team. He is an excellent choice for the Ken Gass Community Builder Award.”
-Linda Quinn, Ferndale School District Superintendent