WCSD Employee Wins Nevada RISE Award

Amber Bass, a longtime WCSD Nutrition Services employee, was recently honored with the Nevada “Recognizing Inspiring School Employees” (RISE) Award by the Nevada Department of Education and Governor Joe Lombardo’s office.

Bass prepares daily meals for 70 delicate and vulnerable students who have complex medical conditions, life-threatening allergies, unique nutritional needs, and feeding styles that require careful and consistent monitoring in the kitchens and at school sites to protect their health and safety. She was nominated for the award by WCSD Board President Beth Smith.

“Amber brought me over to her kitchen workstation and showed me her large board of smiling student photos—a personal reminder of the children whose meals she is entrusted with preparing,” wrote President Smith in her nomination. “These students’ parents send their precious children to school each day in the Washoe County School District with absolute trust that Amber has prepared a meal that is safe, delicious, and – very importantly—as similar to their classmates’ meals as possible… Parents know that when their child eats at school, Amber has safeguarded every detail as if they were her own.”

Amber Bass has worked for WCSD since 2006 in the special programs department of Nutrition Services. She received a phone call from Governor Lombardo on Friday, informing her of her award. She will now apply to the U.S. Department of Education for the National RISE Award to be determined next spring.