Staff

President & Chief Executive Officer

Emily Yim is the President & CEO of Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS), a collaboration of school districts across WA State, whose mission is to lead a partnership of school districts, industry, and community dedicated to ensuring students furthest from opportunity can pursue a future that embraces their strengths, passions, and dreams. Emily works with the Board of Directors, comprised of K12 Superintendents and Industry leaders to support equity in every school and opportunity for every student.

She has served as a Board of Trustee at Edmonds College for 13 years overseeing two successful Presidential transitions. She also served as the Chair for the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) in Washington, D.C., providing leadership in governance and policy advocacy, which serves over 520 governing boards and 6,500 trustees. She also served on the national board of The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in Washington, D.C, an advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges, representing more than 1,000 2-year, associate degree-granting institutions and nearly 12 million students.

Ms. Yim is a guest speaker and consultant for Community College Boards across the country and internationally. And also serves as faculty at The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) preparing future Community College Presidents.

Ms. Yim was also the founding Director of the Department of Neighborhoods and Community Affairs for the City of Lynnwood; Vice President of Community and External Affairs at Chase, helping to oversee and invest a $29 million annual philanthropic budget; and is a current board of the Providence Regional Board. She completed her B.A. in International Studies and Political Science at the University of Washington. 

Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Networks

John joined WABS in July 2021 as the King and Pierce County Regional Network Director. In this role, he catalyzes and convenes outcome-focused collaborations with industry, community-based organizations, education systems, and other key partners to drive the work for Career Connected Learning. Prior to this, John served as Vice President of Corporate & Workforce Training at Everett Community College. This role included collaboratively leading the design, development, and implementation of several new regional centers for high demand career training as well as developing strategic networks and partnerships to create equitable education pathways across industry, labor, K-12, and higher education boundaries.

John has served as a board member with Boys and Girls Club Snohomish County, Economic Alliance Snohomish County, and Everett Area Chamber of Commerce. He has held faculty and managerial roles forging global partnerships for international education at the University of Washington, where he also completed graduate degrees in Teaching and Public Administration. He is currently completing his doctorate in higher education leadership at Northeastern University.

Director of Finance & Operations

Casey joined WABS with over 10 years of management and leadership experience in accounting and operations for nonprofit and government-subcontracted educational organizations. Through these roles, he has been involved in the development of STEM-focused programming for young learners of all ages.
 
Casey has also volunteered consistently with multiple outdoor youth nonprofit organizations for nearly 20 years. The majority of that time has been spent with Washington State Youth Conservation Camps as both a class instructor and administrator, educating young teenagers on the importance of sustainability and responsible use of natural resources and the outdoors for future generations to enjoy.

He holds a BA in Accounting from Western Washington University and lived in Bellingham for nearly 12 years. Most of his free time is spent outdoors mountain biking, bouldering, climbing, hiking, backpacking, camping, or kayaking. Casey is also a musician and has played drums for multiple groups over the years across several genres and styles of music. 

Senior Project Manager

Christina is an inclusive, innovative, and strategic leader with 35 years of professional experience in higher education. She has held cabinet and executive level positions at Bellevue College, Edmonds College, and Everett Community College, including interim president, vice president of student affairs, dean of student development, and associate dean for diversity. She is an advocate for social and educational justice and has experience building partnerships with employers and community organizations to create innovative programs advancing access and opportunity for underrepresented and historically excluded populations.

Christina has a master’s degree in education from Western Washington University (WWU) and her bachelor’s degree in social work from Colorado State University. She lives in Bothell and is a proud mother of two children. Her daughter Alma graduated from WWU and is a Life Skills/Special Education teacher and her son Xavier will be attending WWU this fall and plans to major in business.

Program Manager

Briget Duncan serves as the Program Manager for FAFSA at LaunchNW, an initiative of Innovia Foundation. With a deep commitment to equity and access in education, WABS and LaunchNW are working together to ensure students furthest from opportunity have the support they need to pursue futures aligned with their strengths, passions, and dreams. In her role, Briget spearheads partnerships and initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for youth, including collaborating with organizations like WABS to bring programs such as the After School STEM Academy, Build Cool Stuff, and Career Tours to the Spokane area. Together, these organizations are instrumental in supporting children from early childhood through career attainment, fostering a community where every student can thrive and succeed.

Briget brings her passion for education and community building to the Pacific Northwest from Louisiana, where she previously served as a teacher, coach, and sales professional. Briget’s journey has taken her from the classroom to the playing field and into the world of sales and community outreach. Her dedication to education and community building shines through in all aspects of her work. When she’s not immersed in her work, you’ll often find her outdoors, exploring new areas and soaking in the natural beauty of the region. Whether hitting the golf course or hiking through scenic trails, Briget finds joy in any outdoor activity. She also cherishes quality time with her family, making the most of every opportunity to create lasting memories together. 

Project Manager

Mal Galbreath joins WABS after nearly a decade of working in project management, international event production, and education. Mal came to the Seattle area by way of New York City where they developed programs and events featuring global human rights activists while also creating their own private tutoring business. Mal has a passion for connecting with learners of all ages, and has focused on expanding educational opportunities for LGBTQ+ students and learners with cognitive disabilities.

Mal holds a BS in Education from Kent State University and a Washington State teaching license. 

In their time outside of work, Mal enjoys spending time at Seattle’s many beautiful parks with their spouse, pets, and friends. Mal is a volunteer and pet foster parent with the Seattle Humane Society.

Project Manager

Koreena joined WABS in September 2024, bringing with her a background in project management, experiential learning, and 7 years in higher education. Previous to joining the WABS team, Koreena spent 5 years managing operations, data, and strategic initiatives for an undergraduate cooperative education program (a 6 to 8-month full-time work experience program), and is excited to bring impact to students prior to their pursuit of post-secondary education. She is passionate about the power of aligned collaboration and specializes in user experience and systems thinking, with a special focus on enhancing the student journey through experience-based curriculums.

She holds a BA in History & Religion from Boston University, an MS in Project Management from Northeastern University, and a PMP certification from the Project Management Institute.

Raised in Oregon, educated in Boston, and new(ish) to Seattle, Koreena is a hobbyist musician, environmentalist, lifelong learner, and aspiring dog mom.

Grant Writer

Sharon joined WABS in June of 2023 after more than two decades as a freelance grant writer working for numerous arts, education, and human service organizations. Over the years she’s helped raise over $1 million in grants to support programs that address social issues such as poverty, social violence, access to basic essentials, and parenting challenges.

Sharon is a native of Buffalo, NY. A long-time Pacific Northwest resident, she lives with her family in Bellevue, where she is an active volunteer with Girl Scouts, Temple B’nai Torah, and Bellevue Public Schools. Sharon holds undergraduate degrees from The Fashion Institute of Technology and a master's in nonprofit leadership from Seattle University.  When she’s not at work, you’ll find her hiking, skiing, and sewing.

21st Century Community Learning Center Program Director

Margeaux was born and raised in Western Washington. She has a M.S. in Special Education, a M.Ed. in Learning and Technology, and a B.A. in Sociology/Social Studies. She also earned her teaching certificate from Woodring College of Education at Western Washington University.

In addition to her role at WABS, she also is a full-time teacher. In her spare time she enjoys reading, sewing, and spending time with friends and family.

Project Manager

Jayme joined WABS in December 2023. She brings a wealth of experience in youth event marketing and account management. She most recently has been spending her time in the classroom as a substitute teacher. Jayme has a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Arizona and a Washington State Teaching Certificate. 

When not working at WABS or teaching in a classroom, Jayme enjoys spending time with her family - whether it’s outdoors with their dog or indoors cheering on her daughters at volleyball games. Her happy place is on a paddleboard listening to an audiobook or in a hot yoga studio.

Program Manager

Clara joined WABS in March of 2024. A native of Mexico City, Clara spent half of her formative years in San Diego, CA, where she began her professional journey with Parent Institute for Quality Education. After graduating from San Diego State University with a BA in Psychology, Clara worked as a corporate trainer. This experience allowed her to explore the various subcultures of the United States and Mexico. Shortly after moving to the PNW in 2016, she joined Mukilteo School District's Family Engagement department. Her focus included creating systems and structures in education to ensure equitable family engagement practices. Clara is fully bilingual - English/Spanish. In her time outside of work, Clara enjoys visiting family in San Diego, reading, going to the beach, and spending time with her son and daughter. 

Lindsey joins WABS after eight years working in non-profit arts education. Most recently, she managed programs that brought social-emotional learning assemblies into over 200 schools annually. Lindsey has a passion for programs that allow students from all backgrounds to discover something new about themselves and the world around them. She focuses on mentoring youth and helping the next generation of leaders find their path.

Lindsey holds a Bachelor of Music with an Elective Studies in Business from the University of Puget Sound. In her time outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her husband and attending music and theatre events around Seattle.

Director of On-Site Work Based Learning

Genevieve joined WABS in July of 2022 as the Employer Engagement Manager for Career Tours. She works with Challenge Seattle partner organizations and other top Puget Sound employers to develop interactive worksite learning tours for high school students to support their Career Connected Learning journey.  Genevieve is proud to call herself a native Seattleite who attended Seattle Central College as a Running Start student before receiving her B.A. from Western Washington University. As an avid traveler who loves learning about different cultures, Genevieve has lived and worked in Israel, France, Gabon, Mexico, and South Africa, in addition to traveling to nearly two dozen other countries. She also holds Master’s Degrees in Social Work and International Studies from the University of Denver. 

Communications Specialist

With an extensive background in marketing, design, and communications, Zenden joined WABS in December 2024 as Communications Specialist. Born and raised in Washington, she is enthusiastic about contributing towards greater equity in our schools!

A graduate of Western Washington University, she holds BA's in Design and Communication Studies. A first-generation Tibetan-American, she actively volunteers with the Tibetan Association of Washington and other Tibetan advocacy groups, assisting with graphic design and advocacy work. In her leisure, she enjoys traveling, running, drawing, and reading - logging her latest on GoodReads.

Vice President of Development & Impact

An east coast native, April Nilsen joined WABS in 2014 while completing her graduate degree, which focused on education policy, program evaluation, and nonprofit management. April has held many roles at WABS, including overseeing student programs, as the organization’s grant writer, and as the Director of Development & Communications. Previously, she has experience as an educator and an administrator in early childhood education.

April holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan, and a Master’s in Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Snohomish County Legal Services. In her time outside of work, April enjoys spending time with her daughters and exploring the outdoors.

Project Coordinator

Erin Nishijima joins WABS after nearly a decade of experiences in formal and informal education and community outreach spaces.  With a Bachelor's in Education from the University of Portland and a Master's in Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies (Multicultural Education) from the University of Washington, Erin has a strong passion for creating equitable human-centered communal spaces and empowering opportunities for youth and families. 

Most recently, she developed and program managed the STEM Education Outreach Program at the Pacific Science Center, where she drove the development of multicultural curriculums and marketing initiatives catered to creating more inclusive learning experiences for youth furthest from educational opportunity.

Originally from Hawai’i, Erin now lives in Seattle with her partner. In her time outside of work, she most enjoys being active outside: hiking, running, camping, paddle boarding, and swimming. If she’s not in the mountains or ocean, she’s most likely cooking in her kitchen or on a plane traveling/car roadtripping.

Vice President of Student & Family Engagement

Randy is the son of Petra and Ambrosio Nuñez, by way of South Texas and Sinaloa, Mexico. His parents migrated to Washington State as farmworkers in the 1960s, and he grew up in the Yakima Valley. He shares that growing up in Yakima, as a Chicano, and working-class was incredibly challenging, and credits his good fortune to his family and incredible community mentors.

Randy was the first in his family to graduate high school, and his college journey took all the detours a first-generation student often takes, nonetheless completing his doctoral degree in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington in 2018.

Randy considers his first experience in student and family engagement as a high school student, being involved in local politics to address racism in schools and programming to increase Chicano/Latino students going to college. His professional experience includes direct support for students and families for post-secondary success in the nonprofit sector, student and family engagement at the school district level, and equity professional development designer and facilitator. His belief in student and family engagement is that it is equity work, and setting the conditions for healthy engagement is the responsibility of our education systems.

Randy has four children he raises with his wife, and spends his free time with family camping, trips, and cultural festivals.  Some of his family's favorite gatherings places include Shi Shi Beach, drive-ins, Remlinger Farms, Dia de Muertos, family reunions and Los Angeles.

Chief of Staff

Grace Schouten joined WABS as an Executive Assistant in 2019, where she supported programming and operations. She became passionate about the nonprofit sector while working in child protective services and juvenile justice diversion programs where she worked directly with youth and families. In prior roles, Grace facilitated professional trainings and managed volunteer groups supporting programs for women and children. In her work, she most enjoys connecting people with their community and strengthening public programs.

Grace holds a BA in Criminology and Sociology from the University of South Florida, and an MPA in Nonprofit Management from South University. She grew up throughout the Southeast, moving to many new places as a military daughter. She enjoys volunteering, cycling, board games, and being outdoors with her family. 

Katie is a seasoned Administrative Professional with a strong background in Educational Administration and a passion for family, sports, travel, and the great outdoors. With a wealth of experience gained from working in school districts, including a role in Human Resources, and as an Administrative Assistant to an Executive Director, Katie brings a strong foundation in organization, communication, and multitasking to WABS.

Beyond the office, Katie finds joy in her role as a mom to three children. She is a sports parent, frequently seen on the sidelines cheering on her kids. Katie understands the invaluable life lessons and skills that children gain from participating in activities. When not watching her kids' games, Katie loves traveling with her family, relishing the opportunity to explore new places and embrace diverse cultures.

21st Century Community Learning Center Associate Program Director

Andrea Wyatt joins WABS after serving as the Director of Title I/Learning Assistance Program/McKinney-Vento and Foster Care at the Marysville School District since 2017. Prior to her time in Marysville, she served in a similar role at Lakewood School District. She has a Master's degree in Business Administration and Leadership, and Bachelor's degree in Communications and World Cultures. 

Andrea also works currently as Director of Development and Engagement for Cocoon House, a long-standing non-profit in Snohomish County dedicated to serving youth and young people experiencing homelessness. Andrea has a passion for kids of all ages, and has a strong belief in how education and opportunity can reshape the lives of all people. She believes that education is the great equalizer.