In August, College and Career Readiness Advisors (CCRAs) gathered for a week-long retreat to reflect on their first year with the Horizons Advising Partnership and prepare for the year ahead. Generously funded by the Gates Foundation, this collaborative effort serves rural districts across the ESD 112 region to help students prepare for their postsecondary journey. The partnership supports students of all backgrounds, with a focus on serving students facing the most significant barriers to opportunity, including first-generation college students and those living in rural and low-income areas across Washington state.
The retreat began with a partnership-wide kickoff where high school administrators and higher education partners joined advisors to assess the first year’s impact. The team then worked with CARA (College Access: Research and Action), a technical partner from New York City, for intensive training in high-quality advising practices. Throughout the week, advisors identified successful strategies and planned ways to expand support for students, families, and communities.
“As we reflected on Year One of Horizons, I was amazed to see the impact this partnership has had on students, families, and communities across Southwest Washington,” said Jake Ptacek, Postsecondary Readiness Manager at ESD 112.
“What’s so unique about Horizons is the fact that it is truly a partnership among the College and Career Readiness Advisors, local school districts, and higher education. Everyone in this space has come together knowing that our students, families, and communities thrive when students graduate from high school with a plan for what comes next. As we look towards the next year, our goal is to continue to broaden the supports we provide to students and families and to help students recognize that, whatever the challenges ahead, they have what it takes to be successful.”
To understand the partnership’s impact, advisors reflected on their experiences, shared insights for the year ahead, and discussed the changes they are witnessing in their schools.
The Horizons Advising Partnership is opening doors to opportunity and building community connections.
Rory Heywood | Wahkiakum and Naselle School Districts
“Our students are able to gain access to a network of knowledge and opportunities that is otherwise unavailable. I have seen them blossom after a campus visit, talking to recruiters, and getting accepted into their programs. Understanding how many doors they really have open is a big deal. I think this partnership offers us the chance to share our expertise not only with each other, but the larger community of postsecondary access agencies and institutions.”
Phoenix Dorsey-Billy | Lyle, Klickitat, and Glenwood School Districts
“I like to look at this partnership as a never-ending canoe. All of our schools are along the Columbia River, and having that be a main centerpiece of our work… we paddle this canoe upstream and connect to each other very closely. It’s a never-ending cycle of paddling upstream and never backwards.” He continues, “This is for the future generations. I want to represent my indigenous people and show them that we can make things happen. Showing native youth that we can do this work, and be involved, go to school, and be successful.”
Breana Higgins | Castle Rock School District
“The Horizons Advising Partnership is a holistic view of what communities need, and what the young people in those communities need to be able to feel confident and well-informed as they transition into being the future leaders of the community. We want to make sure that students feel supported to have a plan for their life after school, and also know that if they change their mind as they go, they know what their systems of support are, and feel empowered in their journey.”
Kaylene Herman | White Salmon and Trout Lake School Districts
“The partnership is an opportunity for advisors like me to go into the school districts, and support students, personnel, and families in knowing what post-secondary options are available, and meet students where they’re at. This gives us an opportunity to help guide them, to remove barriers, to remove challenges, and really try to make it as seamless as possible from the time they begin senior year to the time they graduate, and beyond.”
Advisors draw from personal experience to support rural, BIPOC, and first-generation college students.
Many CCRAs either grew up in rural communities or were first-generation college students themselves, giving them authentic insight into the students and communities they serve.
Cree Reynolds | Hockinson School District
“When I was in my rural school, I could have definitely used this kind of help. I felt like everyone else had a plan, and I didn’t know how to access what I needed.” She continues, “We have students with really big dreams who may not have the same access to resources or the same opportunities that a student in a big city would have. Having somebody who is telling our students: ‘You can do this, I believe you can do this, and I’m going to help you do it…’ I think that is crucial.”
Amy Hitchcock | Ocean Beach School District
“All of our districts are really rural, and we don’t have a lot of resources in-house. And we’re all from these communities; this shines a light on the ways we can share information, the ways that we can collaborate, and the ways we can draw on expertise outside of our local areas, while remaining true to the spirit of our local communities. These students have always had people on their side… but I think the partnership allows us to expand, and to share our resources in a way that makes the world a little bigger.”
Lily Painter | Stevenson-Carson School District
“Growing up in Trout Lake was amazing, but as a rural student in a really small K-12 school, there weren’t as many opportunities as there are in more urban districts or bigger schools. There are so many things out there that I didn’t have access to. Now that I am doing this CCRA work myself and am back home in the Gorge, it really is personal. It is my responsibility to share what I have learned. It is a passion project of mine.”
Kristy Gutierrez | Kalama School District
“As a first-generation college student myself, I really wanted to bring all of the knowledge that I’ve learned over the past 20 years to be able to help students figure out what that path looks like, and overcome the myths, misnomers, and barriers. I relied on teachers and counselors to help me understand financial aid and how to apply for college. That experience has taught me the value of having positions like this.”
The Horizons Advising Partnership represents a commitment to ensuring that all students have an equitable opportunity to pursue their dreams. By centering the needs of BIPOC students, rural students, first-generation college students, and those in low-income communities, the partnership addresses systemic barriers and creates more accessible pathways to success. These advisors bring both professional expertise and lived experience to their work, preparing future leaders who will strengthen communities for generations to come.
About The Horizons Regional Grant Program
For more information on the Horizons Grant, visit the Gates Foundation Horizons site or contact Jake Ptacek, Postsecondary Readiness Manager at ESD 112 at jake.ptacek@esd112.org.
ESD 112 equalizes educational opportunities for learning communities through innovative partnerships, responsive leadership, and exceptional programs.