A Teacher Who Inspires Far Beyond the Classroom
At this year’s Bellingham Public Schools Foundation Gala, we were proud to honor Kay Reilly, Squalicum High School’s beloved band director, with the 2025 Promising Futures Award. This award recognizes an educator who goes above and beyond to create meaningful, memorable, and transformative experiences for students. Kay was selected because her impact extends far past the notes on a page. She builds confidence, community, and lifelong resilience in the students she teaches.
Why Kay Was Chosen
Every once in a while, a teacher comes along who transforms not just a program, but the lives of the young people within it. For students in Squalicum High School’s band program, that teacher is Kay Reilly.
When Logan first walked into Ms. Reilly’s classroom as a nervous freshman, he wasn’t even sure what instrument he wanted to play. Coming out of COVID, he had learned saxophone over Zoom; not exactly the most inspiring way to begin a musical journey. But instead of pushing him to choose quickly, Kay did something different.
She gave him space.
Kay introduced him to different sections, encouraged him to talk with other musicians, and patiently guided him as he explored. He eventually found his home on the trombone. That simple act, stepping back so a student could step forward, is emblematic of Kay’s teaching philosophy.
“I can be open with her in a way I can’t with most teachers. She makes it feel like a second home.”
For Logan and so many others, her classroom became a second home. It’s a place where students can be themselves, where older musicians naturally support newer ones, and where mistakes aren’t failures: they’re part of the music.
Kay is soft-spoken, but her leadership is powerful. She doesn’t command attention through volume; she inspires excellence through care. She spends summers and weekends alongside her students—running marching band camps, traveling to parades, and cheering them on from the sidelines.
She creates unforgettable moments: senior nights with heartfelt personal tributes, concerts that bring the community together, and daily rehearsals that teach far more than music.
For Logan, Kay became more than a teacher; she became a second mom. She checked in when he was sick, supported him through challenges, and encouraged him to keep going when music (and life!) felt overwhelming. “I can be open with her in a way I can’t with most teachers,” Logan shared. “She makes it feel like a second home.”
Her influence doesn’t end at graduation. Logan says the lessons he’s learned from her, perseverance, kindness, and the importance of making space for others to shine, will stay with him throughout college and beyond.
This kind of lasting impact isn’t unique to Logan. It echoes in every section, every performance, and every student Kay lifts up. She has created a community where young people feel safe to take risks, support one another, and grow together. Congrats, Kay, on this much deserved win!
Thank You, WECU
The Promising Futures Award is made possible through the generous support of WECU, whose commitment to lifting up educators and students helps stories like Kay’s be celebrated and shared. We’re grateful for their partnership in honoring educators who shape bright futures every day.
