Shhhh, this is a secret!!

Hello, I'm Kristy Ulrich, youngest child of Kathy Hand. Kathy has finally retired from her labor of love, teaching the history and principles of constitutional democracy in the United States to teachers in Washington State. (We the People) She also trained teachers in a curriculum that actively engages people in the process of monitoring and influencing public policy. (Project Citizen) Finally, Kathy worked with a program to teach democratic principles to emerging democracies. (Eastern Russia was her country.) She has done amazing things to further civics education, a definite passion of hers! Kathy has dedicated her life to bringing Civic Education into Washington Classrooms for nearly 40 years. She has been a "Shining Star" as she pioneered new curriculum (both We the People and Project Citizen), guided hundreds of teachers with summer institutes and trainings, and helped students and parents across our state develop an understanding of government and their role in our democratic republic. We estimate (on the low side) that she put classroom sets of books in the hands of more than 15,000 teachers and (if the teachers only used the books once) 525,000 students. In other words, Kathy helped us all find our role and our voice!

Times are changing and Kathy is RETIRING!!!

So now it is our turn to honor and thank Kathy for her years of volunteer service to the students, teachers, and citizens of this state. She's always dreamed of going to Iceland to take a knitting tour of the island. This tour includes sightseeing and a Golden Circle tour. Everything, including the hotel, is wheelchair accessible. This would be a dream vacation for her and a wonderful way to honor her for all her dedicated hard work.

If you could donate to her SURPRISE retirement trip, we'd love to share this trip at her retirement party on September 26th. (It's at Billy McHale's in Federal Way.) Even $5 or $10 would be a great help!

Thank you so much!

Kristy