Jill Weil has worked in the Cascade School district for seven years in various capacities, including Multilingual Specialist, Migrant Graduation Specialist, and English Language Arts teacher. Originally from North Carolina, where she taught in a Dual Language program, Jill has a passion for using her skills as a multilingual specialist in the general education classroom. She works to make content comprehensible, accessible, and engaging for all students. Jill holds a master's degree in teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Western Carolina University and is a National Board-Certified teacher.
Eduardo “Eddie” Barragan has been cooking for more than 32 years. He began his culinary journey in California on a work visa, working at resorts and ranches where he discovered his passion for cooking. Loving the work and the opportunities it provided, Eddie eventually applied for U.S. citizenship and later made his way to Washington. After moving to the valley, Eddie joined the local family restaurant, Kristall’s, where he worked his way up to kitchen manager and remained for 25 years. Four years ago, he joined the Cascade School District as a food service delivery driver. A couple of years later, he was offered the opportunity to run the kitchen at Peshastin-Dryden Elementary, a role he was excited to accept. Eddie says his favorite part of the job is the students. He loves seeing the excitement on their faces when they come through the line saying, “Hi Mr. Eddie!” and “Thank you, Mr. Eddie!” He says their positivity and smiles make every day a great day to be at work. It’s even more special now that his granddaughter attends the school, giving him the chance to see her every day while doing what he loves; cooking for the community he calls home.
Congratulations to Jill and Eddie!