OLYMPIA, Wash. - Gov. Jay Inslee honored Washington Youth Academy Director Larry Pierce as well as 21 other state agency managers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership. The 2016 Governor's Award for Leadership in Management was presented recently at an awards luncheon at the Executive Residence on the grounds of the state capitol complex.
The Youth Academy is part of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program and is a state-run residential and post-residential program for youth between 16 and 18 who have dropped out of high school or at risk of dropping out and offers free tuition to those who qualify.
This year's recipients were recognized for a wide range of accomplishments, including work to save taxpayer dollars, improve communications with local governments, small businesses and the public and protect public health.
"These managers exemplify the best in our state employees," Inslee said. "They have set priorities and achieved results, managed risk and modeled leadership attributes," Inslee said. "They are setting a great example and I am pleased to recognize their excellence in management through these awards."
The Leadership in Management program was created in 1985 to recognize state government managers who demonstrate excellent performance. A selection committee composed of agency directors and executive staff chose the winners based on demonstrated performance.
Pierce has more than 30 years of experience working in secondary, post-secondary, and adult education settings. His administrative experience includes positions as a Drug Education Specialist/Unit Activity Test Control Officer in the U.S. Army, a division administrator in the community college system, a tribal school superintendent, the deputy director of the Washington Youth Academy and, currently, the director of the Washington Youth Academy. He is the executive administrator at the academy and responsible for oversight of the organization.
The mission of the Washington Youth Academy is to provide a highly disciplined, safe and professional learning environment that empowers at-risk youth to improve their educational levels and employment potential and become responsible and productive citizens of the State of Washington. The Washington Youth Academy is a division of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. Established under authority of both federal and state law, the WYA is a state-run residential and post-residential intervention program for youth who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out.