Leadership for Learning Cohort 2, 2004-07
Victor Anderson
Current Position:
Madison Middle School
Seattle School District
Co-Principal
Academic Background:
Central Washington University, Bachelor of Music Education
University of Southern California, Master of Music; Jazz Studies
California State University at Northridge, Master of Arts in Educational Administration
Previous Experience:
1990-1994 Burbank Unified School District, Music Teacher
1994-1996 University of Southern California, Graduate Asst.
1996-2001 Los Angeles Unified School District, Dean of Students, Music Teacher
Professional Goal:
Complete Doctoral Degree and requirements for superintendent’s credential in the allotted three year window. Continue working as a building level leader and eventually attain a position as a district level leader and superintendent.
Peter Bang-Knudsen
Current Position:
Bellevue High School
Bellevue School District
Assistant Principal
Academic Background:
Whitman College, BA Politics
Seattle University, Masters in Teaching; University of Washington
Danforth Educational Leadership Program.
Previous Experience:
Eight years social studies teacher at Newport High School. Two years Social Studies Curriculum Developer, Bellevue School District. Two years Assistant Principal, Interlake High School. 1 year Assistant Principal, Bellevue High School.
Professional Goal:
In the short term I would like to be a principal of a comprehensive high school. In the long term, I want to work as a District-level administrator, focusing on areas of instruction and curriculum.
Machelle Beilke
Current Position:
Kapowsin Elementary
Bethel School District
Principal
Academic Background:
Western Washington University; Seattle Pacific University.
Previous Experience:
My career began 25 years ago and has included classroom teaching in grades two, three, five and six as well as music, integrated arts, kindergarten and TOSA for reading and writing and new teacher coach and mentor. I have worked in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Federal Way. I spent two years working at Seattle Pacific University as a research assistant in education, advisor for graduate students and teacher certification, and student teacher supervisor. Most recently I have worked in the Bethel School District where I served one year as an assistant principal and am currently completing my fourth year as principal at Elk Plain School of Choice.
Professional Goal:
Upon completing my doctorate I would like to work at the university level teaching and researching effective teaching practices and leadership. I would also like to work with school districts in professional development especially as it relates to effective classroom instruction and the development of teacher leaders.
Dina Blum
Current Position:
Center for Educational Leadership, University of Washington
Program Manager:
Small Schools Project/Coalition of Essential Schools Northwest
Small Schools Coaches Collaborative
Academic Background:
Brown University, AB
Lesley College, M.Ed.
Previous Experience:
Project Manager, UW Center for Educational Leadership, working on various projects aimed at building instructional leadership capacity and closing the achievement gap; School Change Coach, Small Schools Project, supporting schools that received reinvention grants from the Gates Foundation; former English/SS teacher (6-12) and K-8 administrator.
Professional Goal:
I am particularly interested in: public education as a vehicle for equity and social justice; instructional leadership in the context of school reform; embedded professional development and professional learning communities.
Tony Byrd
Current Position:
Beverly Elementary School
Edmonds School District
Principal
Academic Background:
Bucknell University 1989, BA in international relations
Stanford University 1996, MA in educational policy
Stanford University 1998 MA in educational administration
Previous Experience:
Intl. Language School- ESL teacher in Budapest, Hungary
Teach For America-- 6th grade bilingual teacher in Los Angeles Teach For America-- Recruitment Director for West Coast Redwood City School District-- 3rd Grade Bilingual Teacher Cambrian School District-- Principal, Farnham Elementary Edmonds School District-- Principal, Beverly Elementary.
Professional Goal:
To find the best leverage points to help institutionalize systemic change for kids. To coach principals in instructional leadership. To teach new leaders how to lead. To write books about the work I’ve done in my career.
Betty Cobbs
Current Position:
Hawthorne Elementary School
Everett School District
Principal
Academic Background:
Western Washington State University.
Previous Experience:
Thirty-one years of professional experience with Everett Public School. Nine years of teaching and twenty-two years as an elementary principal.
Professional Goal:
My goal is to work with teachers and administrators to improve student learning in struggling schools.
Sue Cohn
Current Position:
Olympia
Contractor, School Improvement
Academic Background:
University of Washington
Previous Experience:
Contractor, School Improvement, OSPI, with focus on coordinating Educational Audits for 25 schools in School Improvement Assistance Program and development of District Improvement Resource Guide. Retired in 2000 after 30 years in education as a high school principal (7 years), assistant principal (9 years), math teacher (14 years), activities coordinator, (2 years), athletic director (2 years), coach (3 years), class and cheer advisor (12 years).
Professional Goal:
My purpose as an educator and my professional goal - to lead and support teachers, schools and districts to provide equitable opportunities for all students to grow and develop, effectively closing the achievement gap among groups of students and raising the bar for all students - provide impetus for my participation in the L4L program. Currently, leadership opportunities present themselves at both the state level through the OSPI School Improvement Program and at the district level through joint development of District Improvement Resources Guide by OSPI and WASA.
Tara Dowd
Current Position:
Fidalgo Elementary School
Anacortes School District
Principal
Academic Background:
Seattle University, BA
University of Washington, M.Ed.
Previous Experience:
I was a teacher at Seattle Archdiocese from 1983 to 1990. Then I was taught in Mount Vernon School District from 1990 to 1996. I am currently the principal at LaVenture Middle School; located in the Mount Vernon School District.
My work experience over the last eight years as the principal of a middle school with high poverty and high E.L.L. populations has given me personal relevance and urgency regarding equity and excellence issues. I see the Leadership for Learning Program as an opportunity for intensive study of research-based best practices, and of how schools and districts have applied these practices and overcome the statistic that income level is a predictor of academic achievement.
Professional Goal:
My objective for entering the Leadership for Learning Doctoral Program is to be deeply knowledgeable about what truly matters in schools, to realize what increases student learning and motivation and how to apply it in a classroom, school and district. I am seeking the same intensive and meaningful professional development and collegiality that I experienced at the University of Washington through the Danforth Program, and more recently through the Experienced School Leaders Program.
Ben Gauyan, Jr.
Current Position:
Midway International School
Highline School District
Principal
Academic Background:
San Diego State University
Seattle Pacific University
Previous Experience:
Currently serving as a principal in the Highline School District. A building administrator since 2001. Has engaged in various roles of the public school systems since 1993 in the states of Washington and California.
Professional Goal:
Attaining doctorate and superintendent’s credential. Research in the systems that high performing districts and buildings have that show closure of the achievement gap. Teacher and administrator recruitment and retainment.
Steve Gering
Current Position:
North Central High School
Spokane School District
Principal
Academic Background:
University of Puget Sound, BS in Biology
Harvard, Masters of Education
Previous Experience:
1993- Joined Teach For America Student taught in Los Angeles Unified School District and was then sent to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. 1993- 1997 - Taught high school science in the Weslaco Independent School District 1997-98- Got my masters degree from Harvard in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy. 1998 - present- I have been assistant principal and small schools grant coordinator at Mountlake Terrace High School. Starting next year I will be starting as principal at North Central High School in the Spokane School District.
Professional Goal:
In the long term, I am interested in being a superintendent of a school district. In the short term, I am interested in continuing to develop as an instructional leader as a building principal. I also have a keen interest in creating a small school and/or working as a planning principal in the creation of excellent schools that work for all students.
Craig Harpel
Current Position:
Mount Vernon High School
Mount Vernon School District
Teacher/Dept. Head
Academic Background:
University of Washington, BS Botany
Western Washington University, M. Ed
Previous Experience:
I have had fourteen years of experience teaching science at the middle and high school levels and have acted as Science Department Chair for much of that time. I have been very active in K-12 science curriculum and instruction efforts at the school and district level and currently I am the NSF North Cascades and Olympics District Teacher Leader for the Mount Vernon School District. In 2003 I received my Principal and Program Administrator credentials from the Danforth Program at the University of Washington. I have been very active in school reform efforts with the goal of improving the academic success of all students especially the large ESL/Migrant population in my current district. I have also worked extensively on block-scheduling issues and efforts to implement smaller learning environments and career-pathway approaches to increase student success.
Professional Goal:
My professional goal is to be working in an administrative position in a district that needs strong vision, leadership, and a strong understanding of the complexities involved in driving educational reform. I am very interested in the theory and practice of effective systemic cultural change in schools and the use of data to drive decision-making.
Laurie Harvey
Current Position:
Odle Middle School
Bellevue School District
Principal
Academic Background:
BMUS Western Wash University
MIT City University
University of Washington, Administrative Cert.
Previous Experience:
Taught four years as middle school language arts teacher in Bellevue School District. During my fourth year of teaching I was part of the Danforth 13 cohort and did my internship as the head teacher at Olympus Middle School, one of the district’s alternative programs. The next year I was hired by Bellevue School District as an assistant principal at Tyee Middle School, where I remained for two years. My third and present year I transferred to Chinook Middle School, where I will return again next school year for a second year.
Professional Goal:
To continue my learning in the educational arena through my own on sight experiences and also through the collaborative experiences and time spent at the U of W as a part of its next Ed. D. cohort. Eventually I would like to work in both an elementary and middle school as the principal before moving on to a job at the district level. Ultimately my goal is to work in a collaborative situation in the field of education where I can effect positive change in programs that will equitably serve and challenge all students.
Kyle Kinoshita
Current Position:
Meadowdale Elementary School
Edmonds School District
Principal
Academic Background:
Western Washington University, BA Ed.
University of Washington, MA Ed.
Previous Experience:
Teacher-Seattle School District 1987-1988. Teacher-Shoreline School District 1988-1994.
Principal-Highline School District 1994-1995. Principal-Edmonds School District 1995-present.
Professional Goal:
My professional focus is in developing leadership in schools and districts for equity and excellence.
Paula Koehler
Current Position:
Resource Services Center
Snohomish School District
Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Academic Background:
Central Washington University
Western Washington University
Previous Experience:
Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment -Snohomish School District 2003-present.
Staff Development Coordinator - Snohomish School District 2000-2003.
Principal - Snohomish School District 1997-2003.
Principal - Mukilteo School District 1994-1997.
Assistant to the Principal - Snohomish School District, 1992-1994.
Teacher - Snohomish School District, 1st - 6th & Highly Capable 1987-1994 .
Teacher - Virginia Beach City Public Schools, 3rd grade, 1983-1987.
Teacher - St. Phillip’s Episcopal School, 2nd grade, 1982-1983.
Professional Goal:
My goal is to develop my leadership skills and knowledge so that I can create conditions in which those around me learn, grow, question, reflect, and act to enhance our purposes in public schools and affect positive change in our organizations.
Richard Lentz
Current Position:
San Mateo County Office of Education, California
Coordinator of Categorical Programs and Accountability
Academic Background:
University of California, Berkeley, BA
California State University, Fresno, MA
Previous Experience:
Administrator of School Programs Clover Park School District, Lakewood, Washington (2003 - 2004). Director, Categorical Programs / Program Evaluation Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Watsonville, California (1996 - 2003).
Coordinator of Student Programs Gilroy Unified School District, Gilroy, CA (1993-2003). Principal, Gustine Elementary/Junior High Gustine Unified School District, Gustine, CA (1988-1993). Principal, Cardozo Middle School and Resource Teacher Riverbank Elementary School District, Riverbank, CA (1985-1988). Principal, Pliocene Ridge Schools (K-12) Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District, Sierra County, CA (1984-1985). Program Administrator, Special Education Sacramento County Office of Education, Sacramento, CA (1979-1984). Resource Specialist, Charlotte Wood Intermediate San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Danville, CA (1978-1979). Educational Coordinator, Assessment Specialist and Teacher Diagnostic School for Neurologically Handicapped, Fresno, CA (1974-1978). Special Day Class Teacher and Elementary Classroom Teacher Ralph Dunlap Elementary School, Orcutt, CA (1972-1974)
Professional Goal:
I am interested in challenging explicit as well as implicit standards for effective teaching in our public schools, and how standards are applied to practice. Thus, my study of school-related variables will focus on the conditions in schools and in school districts necessary to foster excellent teaching and to support excellent teachers. Closely related will be recent theory and practice on organizational change strategies that can lead schools and districts to create conditions that support excellent teaching and excellent teachers. Also, a comparative examination and critical review of the type of professional development supported by various school reform programs could be valuable for practitioners.
Terrance Mims
Current Position:
Seahawks Academy
Seattle School District
Principal
Academic Background:
San Diego State University, B.A., Public Administration
University of Washington, Masters, EDLPS
Previous Experience:
I am currently serving as a middle school principal in Seattle Public Schools. I previously served as a Senior Budget Analyst in the Seattle Public School’s Budget Office. During the 2003-2004 school year I interned at Chief Sealth High School and Thurgood Marshall elementary. I also served as School Transformation Coordinator at Chief Sealth during the 2003-2004 school year. I have over 8 years of teaching and program management experience in CA schools, having taught English and Social Studies in Oakland and San Francisco high schools. I have also served as activities director, sports team coach and building administrator in these schools. Prior to teaching, I spent 4 years in the private sector as a business analyst and project manager in the banking industry.
Professional Goal:
To continue to make a difference in the lives of students urban school districts. I hope to some day lead an urban school district as a superintendent.
Eric Nelson
Current Position:
Oakland Unified School District
Oakland, CA
Network Executive Director
Academic Background:
University of Wisconsin, BA
University of Wisconsin, MS
Previous Experience:
1-2 Multi-Age Teacher-Levi Leonard Elementary School, 1996-1999 Evansville, Wisconsin. Principal-Waterloo Elementary School, 1999-2001, Waterloo, Wisconsin. Principal-Sanislo Elementary School, 2001 to present, Seattle Public Schools.
Professional Goal:
My professional goal is to continually learn ways to support teachers and students to be powerful
learners, democratic citizens, and complex thinkers that strive for social justice. I believe this
can be accomplished by being passionate about education and caring for each individual so everyone
can work together for a fantastic educational experience. Keeping balance in my life to enjoy friends,
see and play music, and participate in all the cultural and outdoor activities that Seattle has to offer
helps me enjoy every moment of every day…as well as sprinkling in lots of humor for a good belly laugh
whenever possible.
Bill Nutting
Current Position:
Executive Director of Personnel and Human Resources
Mount Vernon District Office
Mount Vernon School District
Academic Background:
University of Washington, BA
University of Washington, M Ed
Previous Experience:
Staff Development Director, Mount Vernon Schools, 1999-Present. Elementary Principal, Mount Vernon Schools, 1994-1999. Elementary Teacher, Highline School District, 1987-1994.
Professional Goal:
Continue development of district leadership skills with a focus on improving instructional practice.
Michelle Reid
no information available
Randy Stocker
Current Position:
Black Diamond Elementary
Enumclaw School District
Principal
Academic Background:
Antioch University, BA
University of Washington, Masters Degree, EDLPS
Previous Experience:
Elementary School Principal, Enumclaw School District. Elementary School Teacher, Bellevue Public Schools. Para educator, Seattle Public Schools.
Professional Goal:
My goals include: finding ways to align educational efforts, from a systemic perspective, to student learning; making the work of public education more public among staff, parents and community and; broadening and deepening my understanding of the multiple influences on public education. I also like to read for pleasure, camp, hike, kayak, travel and get lost without a map.
Mary Ann Unger
Current Position:
Port Angeles High School
Port Angeles School District
Assistant Principal
Academic Background:
Portland State University, BS
Eastern Washington University, BA
University of Washington, MA Ed.
Previous Experience:
Elementary Teacher: 1976-1978, Elementary Reading Specialist - 1988-1994, Reading Recovery® Teacher Leader- 1991-1995.
Elementary Principal: 1998-99, Various Director and Executive Director Positions at the Central Office1995-2004.
All these experiences have been with the Port Angeles School District.
Professional Goal:
Provide leadership to systems engaged in ensuring the elimination of the achievement gap and ensuring every child receives a high quality education. This results in high levels of student achievement and the ability of every child to choose a future that leads to being a contributing member of our society. I’m committed to constructing learning communities in which all individuals, children and adults, are constantly learning and growing.
Richelle Bouse Ward
Current Position:
Medina Elementary/ Bellevue Schools/ Olympia
Teacher/ program coordinator/ Commissioner
Academic Background:
Western Washington University; Lesley University; National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Previous Experience:
Richelle is a National Board Certified fourth grade teacher in Bellevue. She designed and oversees Bellevue’s support program for National Board candidates to include training facilitators, leading professional development classes, cognitive coaching, etc. She mentors new teachers, guides student teachers, is a volunteer tutor to students in need, leads reflective practices support groups, and has worked to create a district literacy program. At the state level, Richelle is part of the team that is defining and improving professional development standards. Appointed by Governor Locke to the Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission (A+ Commission), Richelle is one of nine members whose sole purpose is to provide oversight of Wash. State's K-12 educational accountability system. Outside Washington, Richelle traveled with policymakers to the New England states to learn about accountability/assessment and to Australia and New Zealand to gain insight into educational practices. Richelle is deeply involved in all aspects of education.
Professional Goal:
To collaborate with other educational leaders in order to address current issues that stand in the way of ensuring that each student has a high quality education. Most interested in promoting effective instructional practices and establishing ongoing community partnerships in the schools.
Spencer Welch
Current Position:
Human Resources Executive Director
Bellevue School District
Academic Background:
University of Washington, BA in History
University of Washington, M.Ed.
Previous Experience:
2002-Present: Principal; Sammamish High School, Bellevue, WA
2000-2002: Assistant Principal; Sammamish High School
1997-2000: Administrative Assistant; Bellevue High School
1990-1994: Teacher; Ferndale High School, Ferndale, WA
1980-1989: Teacher; Lake Washington High School, Kirkland, WA
1979-1980: Teacher; Bellevue High School, Bellevue, WA
Professional Goal:
To ensure that all students experience an enriching and challenging school program so that their post K-12 options are completely open.
Mark Wenzel
Current Position:
Bethel District Office
Bethel School District
Communications Director
Academic Background:
Earlham College, BA (Japanese Studies)
University of Washington, MA (International Studies)
London School of Economics, MA (Media)
Previous Experience:
Communications Director, Bethel Schools, 2002-present. Previous experience includes teaching in the U.S., Japan and Korea; television broadcasting in Korea; public information officer in the legislature; communications director of I-728 campaign and Seattle levy campaign; assorted singing and acting ventures.
Professional Goal:
To be a superintendent in a dynamic, diverse district in Washington state; governor.
Tricia Zurybida
Current Position:
Director of Special Services
Hoquiam School District
Academic Background:
Seattle University, BA
University of Washington, M. Ed
University of Washington (Danforth – Administrative credentials)
Previous Experience:
Director of Special Services, Hoquiam School District, 2 years (Sp. Ed., Title, LAP, ECEAP, community preschool, 504).Danforth Internships: Special Services – Program Administration, Evergreen Jr. High – Principal Certification (Both in the Lake Washington School District). Combined Special Education Resource Room and Title I teacher, Lake Washington School District, 5 years. Special Education teacher for students with severe disabilities, Federal Way School District, 5 years.
Professional Goal:
My overall goal as an educational leader is to provide support to staff so that they can build and sustain positive environments and effective instructional practices for each student every day. I have a particular affinity for struggling learners, both with and without disabilities. I am especially interested in the area of reading and developing a district-wide resource framework for levels of intervention based on diagnostic profiles from assessment.