Hillary Ray, an educator at the Washoe County School District's Transition Academy, has won a national award for her work preparing students with disabilities for life after high school.
The district announced Oct. 23 that Ray received the Iva Dean Cook Educator of the Year Award from the Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT). The district referred to the honor as the "IDCDT Iva Dean Cook Educator of the Year Award," while DCDT's own website lists it as the "Iva Dean Cook Teacher of the Year Award."
The award goes to educators who show outstanding commitment to career education and transition programming for students with disabilities, according to DCDT. It is named after Iva Dean Cook, a DCDT founding member and past president who the organization describes as a pioneer in teacher preparation in transition education.
Ray works at the Transition Academy, a WCSD program that serves young adults ages 18 to 22 who have earned an Adjusted or Alternative Diploma. Students there focus on vocational and career exploration, work-based learning, post-secondary training, self-advocacy and workplace readiness, according to the district's transition services page.
The academy's website says its goal is to prepare students for employment, greater independence and active community participation through individualized instruction and workplace experiences.
The district said Ray works closely with students as they build skills for employment, continued education and independent living. WCSD's press release credited her "commitment to student growth and individualized support" with helping students navigate the transition from school to adulthood.
The award is new ground for WCSD. DCDT's past winners page lists Abby Clark as the 2025 recipient but does not yet show Ray's name. The organization has not independently confirmed the 2026 award on its website as of Oct. 26.
