Bringing education leaders together

In conversations we had with nearly 200 community members in 2022, which informed our current strategic focus, many pointed to our ability to bring partners together as a unique benefit the foundation offers. In response, we created an education roundtable and funders network in Washington state.
The Education Roundtable

We must all work together to advance solutions that help more students find successful pathways after high school. Our Education Roundtable—coordinated and facilitated by The Scholar First—features a diverse group of 40 students, teachers, principals, superintendents, statewide education leaders, education data experts, and nonprofit leaders aiming to do just that.

The Education Roundtable first met in November 2023. The Scholar First will continue to bring Education Roundtable members together to discuss and pursue the following goals:

  • Create a common definition of postsecondary success, and draft indicators and strategies that align to this definition. 

  • Learn from student insights to identify solutions that will help more students experience postsecondary success. 

  • Anchor the work in data so Education Roundtable members can advocate for proven solutions.

Meet the members of our Education Rountable

  • Dr. Adam Swinyard, Superintendent, Spokane Public Schools
  • Aimee Iverson, Executive Director, WEA
  • Alex Brewster, Student, Tukwila School District
  • Brandon Bao, Student, Federal Way Public Schools
  • Chris Reykdal, Superintendent, OSPI
  • Dr. Concie Pedroza, Interim Superintendent, Tukwila School District
  • Dr. Dani Pfeiffer, Superintendent, Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS)
  • Dennis Nguyen, Student, Tukwila SchooL District
  • Derek Garrison, Principal, Evergreen Public Schools
  • Eliel Galicia, Student, Quincy School District
  • Eva Maxwell, Student, Walla Walla School District
  • Dr. Ivan Duran, Superintendent, Highline School District
  • James Dorsey, President and CEO, College Success Foundation
  • Jasper Knowlton, Student, Spokane Public Schools
  • Jessica Vavrus, Executive Director, OSPI / AESD Network
  • Joel Aune, Executive Director, WASA
  • Johanaly Torres, Student, Quincy School District
  • John Boyd, Superintendent, Evergreen Public Schools
  • John Welch, Superintendent, Puget Sound ESD
  • Jurnee Robinson, Student, Highline SD
  • Kevin Jacka, Lead Superintendent/CEO, The Rural Alliance
  • Liliana Whitmore, Student, Evergreen Public Schools
  • Lynne Varner, Executive Director, WA STEM
  • Marquise Dixon, CEO, Degrees of Change
  • Dr. Matt Oberst, Principal, Federal Way Public Schools
  • Maud Daudon, Executive Leader, Career Connect Washington
  • Michael Cheever, Executive Vice President, Strategy and External Affairs, College Success Foundation
  • Michael Meotti, Executive Director, Washington Student Achievement Council
  • Michelle Price, Superintendent, North Central ESD
  • Dr. Nik Bergman, Superintendent, Quincy School District
  • Pablo Sanchez Barbosa, Student, Evergreen Public Schools
  • Paul Francis, Executive Director, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
  • Randy Spaulding, Executive Director, State Board of Education
  • Richi Rameriz, Student, Highline School District
  • Ruben Flores, Executive Director, Council of Presidents
  • Scott Seaman, Executive Director, Association of Washington State Principals
  • Steve Mullin, President, Washington Roundtable
  • Dr. Steven Gering, CAO in Residence, Abl Schools
  • Susan Rose, Teacher, Quincy School District
  • Tennille Jeffries-Simmons, Chief of Staff, OSPI
  • Dr. Terri Standish-Kuon, President & CEO, Independent Colleges of Washington
  • Testify Tshisekedi, Student, Federal Way Public Schools
  • Turner Van Slyke, Student, Walla Walla School District
  • Dr. Wade Smith, Superintendent, Walla Walla School District
  • Yadira Covarrubias, Student, Spokane Public Schools
  • Yanetzi Gonzalez, Student, Quincy School District
  • Dr. Angela Jones Director, Washington State Initiative
  • Bish Paul, Senior Program Officer, Policy & Advocacy
  • Munira Sheriff, Senior Program Officer, Measurement, Learning & Evaluation
  • Travis Franklin, Senior Program Officer
  • Dr. Tammy Campbell, CEO and Founder, The Scholar First, Facilitator of the Education Roundtable
  • Kylee Campbell
  • Kassie Swenson
Funders Network

Funders Network

We’re working with Philanthropy Northwest and College Spark to bring education funders in Washington state together to discuss emerging funding opportunities and identify where our resources could go further together. 

Our first Education Funders Network meeting was held in December 2023, where funders agreed that they all have a focus on student success and wanted to learn from each other, understand what other funders are doing and what data they use to make decisions, and identify places where they can co-fund projects or collaborate.

The Funders Network will continue to meet in 2024 and look for these collaboration opportunities. The first meeting of the year will focus on discussing statewide education data and what policies and programs could help improve student outcomes.

Blog & Resources

An Education Roundtable member standing next to a presentation board.

November 2023 Newsletter: Meet our Education Roundtable

We must all collaborate to give students access to the opportunities they need to design the future they want.
Angela Jones, Director of the Washington State Initiative, takes to the stage during the Washington State Initiative Launch in Seattle, Washington, on June 14, 2023.

September 2023 Newsletter: How education can be more student-led

As another school year kicks off, we must not only focus on listening to students but also giving them power in decision-making on education issues.
Lilliane Ballesteros, Executive Director, Latino Community Fund

Washington state leaders reflect on Hispanic Heritage Month

For this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, we caught up with a couple of these leaders to learn about the issues facing Washington’s Latino community, their connections to this month, and their own inspirations.

Washington State Education Other Areas

Expanding evidence-based solutions
We help launch and grow statewide programs that are proven to help students pursue college and career pathways—such as high-quality advising and dual credit.  
Supporting local partnerships
We launched two grant programs that focus on listening to and partnering with local organizations who know their communities best to understand where we can make the biggest impact.
More about our work

More about what we do

Community Engagement
In the greater Seattle region, we provide flexible funding to strengthen local nonprofits and help them address emerging community needs—like housing security and homelessness.
Charter Schools
We believe high-quality charter schools—which are free and open to all—are an important part of Washington’s public school system, giving families additional options to help meet the needs of all students.
Washington State Education
Nearly 90% of Washington’s high schoolers say they want to continue their education after graduation, but only 50% enroll in postsecondary programs today. We’re working with partners to change that.

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