This story previously provided an incorrect work history for Ricardo Iñiguez. The error has been corrected in this version.

WENATCHEE — An assistant principal at Wenatchee High School was named “Distinguished Assistant Principal of the Year” for the Columbia Basin League.

Ricardo Iñiguez said he learned about the honor about a week ago.

“I was kind of stunned at first,” the 35-year-old administrator said. “This is an individual award, but I want to be clear that I’ve developed as assistant principal due to my interaction and discussions with people I work with district and building-wide, parents, students and my family.”

Before becoming assistant principal at Wenatchee High School in 2005, he was a Spanaway Lake High School teacher for three years and he taught two years at a Tacoma middle school in its Spanish-immersion program. His parents, Santiago and Guadalupe, emigrated from a small village in Michoacán, Mexico.

WHS Principal Michele Wadeikis said Iñiguez manages the school’s master schedule, student and teacher attendance, teacher observations and evaluations, facilities scheduling and maintenance. Wadeikis nominated him for the award.

“As a principal, it’s crucial to have assistants that are proactive, who are decision makers and confident themselves,” Wadeikis said.

In September, Gov. Christine Gregoire appointed Iñiguez to represent the Hispanic community on the state Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee. The Legislature created the six-month task force to make recommendations to state agencies and other commitees about upcoming policy.

Rachel Schleif: 664-7139

schleif@wenatcheeworld.com