Woodring's Tim Bruce Honored by LaConner School District

The LaConner School District has dedicated the district’s Performing Arts Center in honor of Tim Bruce, assistant professor in the Educational Administration program in the Woodring College of Education. On Wednesday, May 16, the Bruce Performing Arts Center was unveiled at a ceremony attended by school district board members, current and past faculty and staff members, and members of the LaConner community.

Whitney Meisner, the current superintendent of the LaConner School District, delivered opening remarks and assisted in the unveiling of a plaque commemorating Bruce’s contributions. Kate Szurek, president of the LaConner School Board, reflected on how Bruce, throughout his tenure as superintendent of the district, supported the arts in LaConner, including helping to craft sets for plays, seeking grants for facility upgrades, advocating for students to experience the arts, and acting in some of the school and community plays staged in the Performing Arts Center.

Bruce served as superintendent of schools in LaConner from 1990-2016. He wrote many grants and collaborated with other school districts in Skagit County and beyond to promote the arts in the Skagit Valley. The Skagit Valley Poetry Festival, an annual event that draws nationally- and internationally-known poets, resulted from Bruce’s drive and vision.

A feature of the dedication ceremony was opening night of Dracula, the spring play performed by LaConner students.