08/17/2026
Superintendent Gauyan Honors Pam Jacobson with Coin of Excellence
Walla Walla Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ben Gauyan recognized District Data Security and Student Records Coordinator Pam Jacobson with the district’s prestigious Coin of Excellence Monday morning during the All Staff Back to School meeting.
Jacobson was honored for her exceptional leadership, dedication and countless hours of service during the district’s transition from Skyward to Qmlativ.
“Throughout this complex and critical technology upgrade, Pam was the glue that held us all together,” said Dr. Gauyan. “Her expertise, calm leadership, problem-solving, and willingness to support everyone around her kept this project moving forward and made a tremendous difference every step of the way.”
For the past two years, Jacobson has played a critical role in preparing district data for the transition, including extensive work to clean and organize information in Skyward. Through weekly meetings with the district’s external support team, she consistently identified solutions and raised questions that helped move the project forward.
As a systems thinker and problem solver, Jacobson brought a unique level of expertise and persistence to the migration. Her leadership helped position Walla Walla Public Schools to become the 200th school district in Washington to successfully migrate to Qmlativ.
“The district would not have had this successful migration to Qmlativ without Pam,” said Dr. Gauyan. “She asked the questions no one else thought to ask and continually found ways to solve problems and support the team.”
The Coin of Excellence program, created by Dr. Gauyan, recognizes individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to Walla Walla Public Schools. Inspired by his childhood in a U.S. Navy family, Dr. Gauyan modeled the recognition after the long-standing military tradition of challenge coins, symbols of honor, dedication and distinguished service.
Jacobson’s recognition reflects the significant impact of her leadership and behind-the-scenes work in helping ensure a successful transition to Qmlativ and supporting families, staff and students across the district.