Advice from the Superintendent

EVIT Superintendent Dr. Sally Downey stopped by the PM medical assisting class last week to talk with students about what it is like to be a woman in a leadership role.

The students - most of who are female - were exploring different possible careers, and Dr. Downey wanted to tell them to find their passion and pursue it.

"It is so important to find out what your passion is and then work in it," Dr. Downey said. "If your passion is what you're doing every day, it's not work. Do it because it's something that makes you really, really happy, because if it makes you happy, you'll be good at it."

Dr. Downey also said that the students should strive to never stop learning, regardless of what path they take after EVIT.

"Education is the best insurance policy you can have because nobody can ever take that away from you," she told the students.

Dr. Downey appointed to AYES board

Congratulations to EVIT superintendent Dr. Sally Downey -- She has been named to the Automotive Youth Educational Services board of directors!

AYES is a partnership among automotive manufacturers, dealerships and secondary automotive programs that seeks to encourage young people to consider and prepare for satisfying careers in retail automotive service or advanced studies in automotive technology.

Dr. Downey is taking the seat previously occupied by Kay Martin, who recently retired. The seat will expire in 2012.

Here's what AYES Chairman Jim Sinclair had to say about Dr. Downey's appointment to the board: “Under Dr. Downey's leadership, EVIT has become an inspirational example of how the AYES school-to-career model benefits students, local dealerships and schools, and the automotive service industry. The important educational perspective coupled with her personal and professional experience brings added perspective to the AYES board. Her commitment to the students and their success in the future will match the high motivation level of the rest of the board.”

A national honor

Congratulations to EVIT Superintendent Dr. Sally Downey for receiving the National Excellence in Education award from AdvancED.

Dr. Downey was one of just two educators nationwide to be honored with this award at the organization's gala awards reception in Atlanta on April 19.

Here she is, with EVIT Campus Director James Fisher and Governing Board President Garry Hays after accepting her award:


Here is what the folks at AdvancED had to say about why they chose Dr. Downey for this honor:

(Dr. Downey) joined EVIT in 2000 and set out to change the institute’s image by creating a vision and mission that would change the expectations of everyone on campus and in the community. She launched an ambitious change effort internally with staff and students, while engaging in an equally ambitious external communications effort to show principals, counselors, parents, and community leaders that EVIT is about preparing students for success in life.

She built a culture where students come first. She is committed to ensuring that all students have a skill, whether it’s using that skill to pay their way through college or continuing on to the next level in a post secondary program.

We couldn't have said it better ourselves!

EVIT board elects new president

The EVIT governing board has a new leader! Garry Hays was unanimously elected as board president by his fellow members at Monday night's meeting. He'll be in charge of leading the board meetings and helping to develop meeting agendas.

Superintendent Dr. Sally Downey took a moment during Monday's meeting to present a plaque of appreciation to former board president Irv Heimbuck (on the right in the photo below) for his service and to congratulate Mr. Hays (on the left) on his new role.


Board member Dolores Watkins will continue in her role as board clerk.