Board

Dr. Alison Brynelson, Superintendent
Mukilteo School District

Alison Brynelson began serving the Mukilteo School District as Superintendent on January 1, 2020. Mukilteo School District serves a diverse population of about 15,000 students living in the cities of Mukilteo, Everett, Lynnwood, and Edmonds. The District has 21 schools, including two comprehensive high schools, one alternative high school, Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center, four middle schools, 12 elementary schools, and Pathfinder Kindergarten Center.

Dr. Brynelson’s work in the District spans 22 years and several different positions including Explorer Middle School Assistant Principal, Voyager Middle School Principal, Director of Student Services, Executive Director of Secondary Education, Assistant Superintendent, and Deputy Superintendent from 2016 to 2019. She began her career in education as a middle school social studies and English teacher in the Bethel School District. Dr. Brynelson has a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University, a master’s degree from University of Puget Sound, completed her superintendent’s certificate in 2005 and earned a doctorate degree in Executive Leadership from Seattle Pacific University in 2014. She has been a steady guiding force in the District’s equity work and the most recent teacher negotiations. Dr. Brynelson was raised on a small island in Southeast Alaska. She moved to Washington to attend Western and has remained a resident ever since.

Shoreline Public Schools

Dr. Susana Reyes has also previously served as the Assistant Superintendent of Operations for the Pasco School District, Assistant Superintendent of Special Services for the Mead School District, and the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for the Pullman School District. Her experience in education includes seeing as a principal, assistant principal, and bilingual elementary teacher for the Wapato School District. Dr. Reyes serves on the Washington State Board of Education. She is also a member of the board of the Washington Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents and a member of the Board of Trustees of College Spark Washington. Dr. Reyes was born in Mexico City and is a first-generation college graduate. She attended Wapato Public Schools and graduated from Wapato High School. Dr. Reyes earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Washington State University as well as her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and master’s degree in education administration. She holds the Principal Certificate and Superintendent Credential also from WSU.

Lake Washington School District

Dr. Jon Holmen serves as 13th Superintendent for the Lake Washington School District. He is a skilled education leader with 21 years of experience in public education. Dr. Holmen began his career as a third grade teacher in Lake Washington School District. He has continued to serve his community as Assistant to the Principal, Principal, Associate Director of Special Services, and Director of School Support for the Redmond Learning Community. Since 2014, Dr. Holmen has served as Associate Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, as a member of the Executive Cabinet. During those six years, Dr. Holmen provided executive oversight for Special Education, Intervention Services, School Support, Human Resources, Student Services, Technology Operations, Communications, and Data, Research & Accountability.

Dr. Holmen holds a doctoral degree in Education and master’s in Educational Leadership from Seattle Pacific University. Additionally, he has a master’s degree in Teaching from City University. He is an active community member in Lake Washington School District, where he lives with his family. He believes in the value of serving the community he lives in and is committed to ensuring continued organizational growth and development to meet the needs of each student.

Northshore School District

Michael Tolley is the Superintendent for the East Region in the Northshore School District. In this role he provides direct supervision of school leaders as well as oversight of Special Services departments including Special Education, Student Services, and Accelerated Models and Programs. Previously, Mr. Tolley served as Assistant and Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, as well as Chief Academic Officer for Seattle Public Schools. In his early years with Seattle, Mr. Tolley was Director of High Schools, where he supervised school leaders at all 18 high schools in the district. He also served as Executive Director of Schools, Southeast Region, supervising K-12 school leaders. 

Before moving to Washington State, Mr. Tolley’s years as an educator were spent in the Charleston County School District and the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina. There, he spent 17 years in the classroom as a biology/marine biology teacher and chairperson of the Science Departments. Tolley served in roles as Assistant Principal, Principal and Interim Associate Superintendent while in South Carolina.

Mr. Tolley earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston (1980). He went on to earn his Master’s in Education (1987), as well as his Education Specialist degree and Superintendent certification (2004) from The Citadel. He currently holds superintendent and principal certifications in both Washington and South Carolina.

Port of Seattle

Ryan Calkins was elected to the Port of Seattle Commission in 2017 and re-elected in 2021. Calkins also works as a nonprofit professional at Ventures, a charitable organization that supports low-income entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses in the Puget Sound area. For over a decade, Calkins ran an import and distribution company in Seattle that was recognized for its industry-leading sustainability initiatives. As Port Commissioner Calkins strives to focus on sustainable economic development with a long-term vision, to ensure that one of our region’s most valuable public assets will continue to thrive for generations to come.

Calkins is a Puget Sound native who was born and raised in Edmonds and currently resides with his wife and three children in Seattle. He received his Master of Arts from Yale University in International Relations and his Bachelor of Arts from Willamette University in Religious Studies.

Highline Public Schools

Dr. Ivan Duran is a proud product of public education. He was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. An early passion for reading and learning sparked his interest in being an educator. He has served over 30 years in public education, most recently as the Chief of Acceleration and Recovery for the Renton School District.

Dr. Duran previously served as superintendent for the Bellevue School District. As superintendent, Dr. Duran led with a focus on racial equity and inclusion, creating systems to support academic, social-emotional, and behavior development for all students. Prior to Bellevue, Dr. Duran was deputy superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District and assistant superintendent for elementary education for Denver Public Schools. He has also served as a principal supervisor, director of instructional technology, principal, assistant principal, and teacher.

Dr. Duran’s core values include a passionate commitment to educational equity, dedication to continuous improvement aimed at results, and a collaborative and transparent leadership style. He holds a doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy Study from the University of Denver, a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado, and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Metropolitan State University of Denver. 
 

Tacoma Public Schools

Joshua Garcia currently serves the students, staff, and community as the Superintendent of the Tacoma Public Schools.  Joshua currently supervises the district’s schools and Learning and Support Team.  In this role Joshua’s teams lead a number of ground-breaking reform initiatives. 

Joshua’s previous experiences include Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Executive Director, High School Principal, Assistant Principal, Athletic Director and Teacher.   Joshua received his doctorate degree from Seattle University and his undergraduate degree from Washington State University.  Joshua is an ASCD International Outstanding Young Educator Award and Emerging Leader Recipient, a Washington State Stem Entrepreneur Award recipient, and was recognized as an Education Week 2015 Leaders to Learn From.

Providence

Joel leads the community partnerships division for Providence, the third-largest not-for-profit health system in the country.  In this role, he oversees national and local advocacy for the system, as well as community health investment efforts that deliver $1.6 billion of community benefit into its service areas.  These efforts are focused on transforming lives, while building healthy and thriving communities. He began at Providence in 2005 as chief strategy and administrative officer for the system’s Alaska Region.

Prior to joining Providence, Joel served as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the state’s largest agency. Before moving to Alaska, Joel was legislative director and chief counsel for a U.S. senator in Washington, D.C. Raised in the Washington, D.C. area, Joel holds a J.D. from George Washington University Law School and a M.P.H. from George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. He also holds a B.A. from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. He resides in Seattle with his wife and two daughters.

McKinstry

As Senior Vice President of Service at McKinstry, Adam brings an innovative approach to facility operations and maintenance to market, helping solve the cost, carbon, and labor crisis in commercial facilities. His vision for the future of facility operations and maintenance is based on innovation, developing tools and offerings to provide customers with better outcomes, including improved reliability, comfort, and indoor health.

“Our goal is to demonstrate and provide excellence and expertise in facility operations and maintenance. That expertise lies in our top-notch staff, whom I value deeply. Together we are reimagining how facilities operate,  the roles they play in the lives of their occupants,  their impact on communities, and how innovative operations and maintenance solutions can give rise to a cleaner, more sustainable planet.”

Adam’s dedication to community and putting people first plays out through his service to youth education and organizations like the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, where he serves as a mentor, and past service on the Careers in Technology and Engineering Advisory Committee for the Lake Stevens (WA) School District.

Adam has been a featured speaker for Field Service Connect, BOMA, Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), Efficiency First, and other organizations.  He was a founding member of the Advisory Committee for the ACCA Building Performance Council and has been a contributor to the HVAC/R News, BUILDINGS magazine and podcasts, and more. 

Seattle Public Schools

As superintendent for the largest school district in Washington state, Dr. Brent Jones is dedicated to making sure all students thrive by transforming organizational culture and redesigning PreK-12 systems and supports.

Dr. Jones became interim superintendent in May 2021, having previously served as the chief equity, partnerships, and engagement officer and assistant superintendent of Human Resources. The Seattle School Board selected him to serve as Seattle Public Schools’ 23rd superintendent at a special meeting on March 11, 2022. He has extensive public sector expertise in strategic planning, community engagement, change management, and human resources. He has served in executive roles with King County Government, Seattle Public Schools, Kent School District, Seattle Colleges, and Green River College.

Under his leadership, Seattle Public Schools implemented a district-wide racial equity strategy, leveraged public-private partnerships to accelerate student growth, embedded racial equity provisions into collective bargaining agreements, established the Civil Rights Compliance Office, and led innovative talent development and recruitment programs focused on workforce diversity and employee engagement.

Dr. Jones is a multi-generational resident of Seattle and proud graduate of Franklin High School. He received a B.A. in zoology from the University of Washington, M.Ed. in adult learning and human resource development, and Ph.D. in educational leadership from the University of Texas-Austin.

T-Mobile

Salim leads Access Network Development and National Development for T-Mobile’s Technology team. His team is responsible for Spectrum Management, National Radio Planning, RAN Design & Architecture, Network Build Governance and Stakeholder Management (Consumer, Business, Care, Marketing…). He orchestrates technology rollouts and supports the network buildout of the BEST 5G network in the country.

Salim has more than 22 years of telecom experience, developing and implementing state-of-the-art wireless engineering networks and solutions. He started his career at Nortel Networks in R&D as a Lead Engineer for radio products. He joined T-Mobile in 2004, growing from System Designer in the Northeast Region to Senior Director and then Vice President of Technology, where he was responsible for leading T-Mobile’s Engineering & Operations team in the most complicated radio environment in the country, the New York metro market.

Salim earned a master’s degree in mathematics from Paris University; a master's degree in Computer Engineering from EPF School of Engineering in France and an Executive MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

Workforce Development Council of Seattle – King County

Marie calls on decades of policy expertise, collaboration, and strategic partnerships across government, community, and philanthropy.

Prior to joining the WDC, Marie developed and led the Port of Seattle’s workforce development initiatives designed to increase equitable access and career opportunities in construction, maritime, aviation, and other port-related industries. Her previous experience includes the City of Seattle and The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, where she led initiatives focused on equity in workforce, organizational change, and sector-based workforce development strategies, and nearly ten years working with diverse populations in community-based employment and training programs.

Throughout her career, Marie has worked to bring the voices of diverse community stakeholders to address issues related to racial equity and social justice.

Edmonds School District

The Edmonds School District Board of Directors selected Dr. Rebecca Miner as the district's permanent superintendent during a special meeting on February 8, 2023. Prior to serving as the interim Superintendent in Edmonds during the 2022-23 school year, Rebecca had been a superintendent for ten years serving the Shoreline and White Pass school districts.

In 2021-22, Rebecca supported districts as a Washington Association of School Administrators Lead for the Inclusionary Practices Project and also served as the Interim Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning and Equity in the Evergreen School District. She has served as an administrator overseeing Special Education services, an associate principal, a high school Language Arts teacher, and a middle school Special Education and Spanish teacher.

Rebecca has mentored many aspiring and new career superintendents and has a passion for providing support to educators in all positions. She is committed to equitable outcomes for students and truly believes in education as a pathway to a lifetime of success. Rebecca grew up in Vancouver, WA. She and her husband Timothy Buckley enjoy attending school events and the many amenities the region has to offer.

Renton School District

Dr. Damien Pattenaude, a product of the Renton School District, grew up in the Skyway neighborhood, where he graduated from Renton High School. He went on to obtain three degrees from Washington State University: a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership, M.Ed in Educational Leadership, and a Bachelor of Arts in English. Over the past fifteen years, he has served the Renton School District as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, chief academic officer, and assistant superintendent of learning and teaching. In July 2017, Dr. Pattenaude assumed the role of Superintendent, where he will continue his focus on improving student achievement for every child.

Marysville School District

The Marysville School District Board of Directors took official action to finalize the hiring of Dr. Zac Robbins at its regular session board meeting on Monday, March 21. Dr. Robbins comes to Marysville from Las Vegas, Nevada, where he served as Principal of Cheyenne High School in Las Vegas. He also served the Nevada State Department of Education by providing leadership professional development to superintendents, district administrators, and principals across the state. His prior experience includes serving as a Principal, Assistant Principal, and Secondary English Teacher in Boston Public Schools along with extensive experience as faculty in higher education, including the University of Phoenix, Lesley University, and Massachusetts Bay Community College. Dr. Robbins earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Boston College; his Master’s Degree in Education Administration & Policy from Howard University; and his Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from Howard University.

Dr. Ian Saltzman has been the Superintendent of Everett Public Schools since July 2019. He was the regional superintendent of The School District of Palm Beach County since 2016. Prior to that, he was the area superintendent of area 1 and 5, superintendent of Transformation Schools, and director of School Accountability. He has served as a principal of elementary, middle and high schools, and taught middle school special education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master’s Degree in Special Education from Florida State University, and a Specialists and Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

The Boeing Company

Kevin Stigerts is the Director & Chief Engineer of Equipment & Tool Engineering for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Named to this role in October 2020, Stigerts serves as a Functional Leader to inspire and grow a technically adept and diverse workforce responsible for designing safe & high-quality production tooling & equipment solutions. Since 2011, Stigerts has held positions of progressive leadership in Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) and Boeing Defense Space & Security (BDS). He led production engineering teams on the VC-25B presidential aircraft replacement, the New Middle Market Airplane (NMA), 777/777X, and 747 airplane programs. In addition, Stigerts served as an operations manager on the 767 program leading structures, joins, and functional test teams for both commercial and military derivatives.

From 2009 - 2011, Stigerts provided engineering support to the Enterprise Technology Strategy, where his analysis and recommendations influenced investment in Systems Engineering process & tools and Manufacturing fabrication & assembly technologies. Preceding those assignments, Stigerts held various software engineering & systems architecting positions in BDS and Boeing Research & Technology (BR&T). Prior to joining Boeing in 2004, Stigerts worked at Northrop Grumman developing human-in-the-loop simulations to support F-35 / JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) avionics development. He also had early career assignments at Microsoft and Unisys corporations.

Stigerts holds a Bachelor of Science in Information & Computer Science from the University of California at Irvine. He also holds a Master of Science in Systems Architecting & Engineering from the University of Southern California. Originally from Southern California, Stigerts currently resides in the Seattle area with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys flying airplanes, crossword puzzles, and golf.

Spokane Public Schools

Dr. Adam Swinyard has been Superintendent of Spokane Public Schools since 2020, and previously served as Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Services. The Spokane Public Schools District is the newest school district collaborating with WABS, and the first school district in Eastern Washington to do so. The District is one of the largest in the state and includes  34 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 5 high schools, and 6 sites dedicated to alternative learning. It also boasts an 89% graduation rate.

In his leadership of the District, Dr. Swinyard uses the skills he gained over his professional career, which includes principal and director positions in the Spokane and Cheney School Districts. He received his B.A. from Northwest University, and an M.Ed., and an Ed.D. in Executive Leadership from Seattle Pacific University.

Providence

Katina C. Thornock serves as Senior Corporate Counsel- Litigation for Providence. Previously, she served as Director, Managing Corporate Counsel, Litigation at Starbucks where she led the team responsible for complex commercial, real estate, intellectual property, general liability and Americans with Disabilities Act litigation. Prior to joining Starbucks, Ms. Thornock gained extensive litigation experience working at the Reed McClure and Cozen O’Connor law firms. She began her career in the Prosecuting Attorneys Offices of King and Pierce Counties, Washington where she guided misdemeanor and felony prosecutions through trial. She is a past Co-Chair of the Starbucks Law and Corporate Affairs Diversity Committee and a 2014 Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity (“LCLD”) Fellow. Ms. Thornock has also served on the Board of Directors of New Beginnings, Seattle Central College and Disability Rights Advocates. She graduated from the University of Washington and Seattle University School of Law.

Kent School District

Israel Vela was named Interim Superintendent of Kent School District in August 2021. A long-time resident of Kent, Israel Vela, and his family have been a part of the community since 1999. Both Vela’s son and daughter graduated from Kentwood High School. As Interim Superindent of the Kent School District, Vela relies on his well-versed knowledge of federal and state programs in order to serve some of the district’s highest-need students and families. Vela has previously served as the Kent School District Chief School Operations and Academic Support Officer and Executive Director of Schools. Prior to joining the Kent School District, Vela spent a combined decade as both a classroom teacher and coach in the Moses Lake and Lake Washington School Districts.