Battle Ground Public Schools To Hold Listening Session - 06/01/26

Join Battle Ground Public Schools board members and district leaders for a discussion about the financial future of BGPS schools, including budget priorities and future educational programs and operations levies. Financial stability is critical to bringing change to the district and preparing students for their future.  

This event is open to the public and everyone is welcome. No RSVP is required. Child care will be available for children over the age of 1 (must be bathroom trained).

• Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Battle Ground High School media center (300 W. Main St., Battle Ground)

Due to the format of the session, it will not be recorded. However, a summary will be available afterward on the district website.

Battle Ground High School Teacher Receives University Of Washington Honor (Photo) - 05/21/26

Battle Ground Public Schools is proud to announce that Jonas Fridriksson, a U.S. history and world studies teacher at Battle Ground High School, has been named the 2026 recipient of the University of Washington’s Thomas J. and Cameron Pressly Endowed Prize for Outstanding History or Social Studies Teacher. This is the second time that Fridriksson has received the award.

Established in honor of UW Professor Emeritus Thomas J. Pressly and his wife, Cameron, the prestigious prize recognizes educators who demonstrate excellence in teaching and a lasting impact on students’ understanding of history. Nominated by 2025 Battle Ground High School graduate and current UW student Elizabeth McAleer, Fridriksson joins a distinguished group of educators recognized for their ability to bring history to life, inspire critical thinking and foster deep engagement with the past. 

Wrote McAleer in her nomination, “Mr. Fridriksson consistently works to make learning fun for his students, even if it is in the grueling class that is AP U.S. History. He gives enticing lectures that often literally have him jumping up and down because he is so excited about what he is talking about. This, in turn, makes learning engaging and fun for all of his students.”

Fridriksson was formally recognized on May 13 at the UW Department of History’s annual Awards Day celebration, an event that highlights the academic and service achievements of students and educators.

Since joining Battle Ground High School in 1994, Fridriksson has been a beloved educator. In addition to his teaching duties, he has coached football and basketball, served as an adviser to the school’s National Honor Society and Model United Nations and coached Knowledge Bowl. In 2013, he was named the Teacher of the Year by the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce.

At Battle Ground High School, Fridriksson is known for his engaging classroom environment, dedication to academic excellence, and commitment to helping students think critically about the past and its connection to the present. His work in AP U.S. History and World Studies has inspired countless students to pursue deeper learning and civic engagement.

“He shows his students that history doesn't always mean textbooks and dust. It’s really about active conversations and learning from the past to inform our present. In making learning fun, his students are able to walk away with a greater understanding of our history in America and are prepared to have the hard conversations necessary to improve our country’s future,” McAleer said.

Chief Umtuch Middle School Teacher Contributes To Silent Heroes Project (Photo) - 05/20/26

Earlier this year, teacher Beth Doughty was selected to contribute to the National History Day Researching Silent Heroes project conducted in partnership with the American Battle Monuments Commission. Doughty is one of just 61 educators nationwide and the only educator from Washington state selected to participate in the highly competitive program. 

The Silent Heroes program engages educators in researching and sharing the untold stories of U.S. service members who died during World War I, World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War. The project also supports classroom learning by giving teachers strategies that they can pass on to help students gather and analyze sources, work with secondary research and draft compelling narratives that include multiple perspectives and are accurately cited.

As part of the program, Doughty also collaborated with her students at the beginning of the school year to select a service member to research. Together, they chose Staff Sergeant Clifford Henry Mast, a U.S. Air Force airman from Spokane, Washington, who served during the Korean War.

“My personal connections drew me to the choosing to research the Korean War, as my own grandfather fought in this war as a member of the Air Force, and was stationed in Japan. I also feel like the Korean War tends to be more forgotten in comparison to WWI, WWII and the Vietnam War, so it was important to me to honor a Silent Hero from this war, and honor his sacrifice,” Doughty said.

Over several months, Doughty conducted extensive research with support from a professional historian and research specialist. The resulting profile of Staff Sergeant Mast is a story of service and sacrifice. Born in Spokane in 1927, Mast was an active student and athlete before entering military service. He served in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, including participating in classified reconnaissance missions. 

Said Doughty, "It meant so much for me to be able to tell the story of Staff Sergeant Clifford Henry Mast and share my research and website with my students and the world! As a history teacher, I always try to find ways to bring history to life and help my students remember that the individuals they are reading about may seem remote, but were as alive and vibrant as the people whom they interact with today. The pictures of Staff Sergeant Mast and and the incredible primary source documents I was able to access in the creation of my website were especially meaningful in telling the story of this Korean War Silent Hero.” 

Doughty’s selection for this program reflects her dedication to professional growth and excellence in teaching. Her work highlights the importance of preserving history and ensuring that the stories of servicemembers like Staff Sergeant Mast continue to be remembered by future generations.

Three Battle Ground Schools Earn State Recognition - 05/14/26

Three Battle Ground schools were recently recognized by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and Washington State Board of Education for their performance in the previous school year. Two primary schools and one alternative learning environment in the district were among the 379 public schools highlighted as part of the Washington School Recognition Program for the 2024-25 school year.

• Glenwood Heights and Tukes Valley primary schools were recognized for growth in their math and English language arts proficiency rates among specific student groups.

• CAM Academy was recognized for achievement. CAM students as a whole performed among the top 20% of Washington schools in several areas: English language arts, math, attendance, freshmen being on track to graduate, dual credit participation and graduation rate.

Earned by only 16% of public schools statewide, Washington School Recognition highlights achievements in key areas of student learning that go beyond just test scores, which are incomplete measures of success. The awards are based on a variety of indicators including academic growth, graduation rates, attendance and other efforts to improve student learning. Together, these measures provide a more meaningful and comprehensive indication of school improvement.

Said Assistant Superintendent Lynnell Tsugawa-Murray, “Battle Ground schools are dedicated to teaching and supporting each and every student, and this recognition points to a few outstanding examples of how that work is yielding results. I am thankful for the staff at these three schools and staff districtwide for their ongoing commitment to help all students reach their academic goals.”