Age: 44

Schooling: Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and Master of Arts in Education

How long have you lived in Federal Way: Our family moved to Federal Way from Los Angeles 10 years ago.

Family members: Husband Damon, daughters Dominique, Nila and Gabrielle, son Theo

Hobbies: Reading, crotcheting, journaling, board games

How long in office: Served five years on the Federal school board from 2008-2013

What are the top 3 items you want the constituents of Federal Way to know about you? I am a parent advocate with volunteer and professional experience helping families navigate the education system. I believe teachers must be highly regarded as professionals, earn higher wages, and receive more resources for use in their individual classrooms. I also believe the district has a moral duty to diversify the teaching staff in every school by using better recruitment and retention strategies.

Describe how you will specifically bring about change to the agency you are running for: I will work toward establishing policies to equalize the learning experiences for students of color. I will support the retention and establishment of district programs that raise expectations for student success and increased participation in college-credit classes and college preparatory programs, like AVID, pre-International Baccaulaureate and Cambridge at the elementary and middle school levels. I will also ensure an increase in dual language learning, career and technical offerings and emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for all, especially students of color and girls.

I will challenge the district to take a closer look at disaggregated student results and enact data-driven solutions to the opportunity/achievement gaps facing students learning English (ELL), those with special needs (SPED), and students of color. I will also consistently demand more parent involvement and better communication to diverse families districtwide.

Who is your personal hero and why? My mother because she instilled in me the value of a great education by being one of three African American students to cross the lines of segregation and attend the all-white high school in her East Texas community.

She never let me miss a day of school, not complete a school assignment or take courses that were not preparing me for college. She also set high expectations of maintaining excellent grades and a high GPA. For both of us we functioned at high levels academically despite racial inequities, poverty and even abuse because we held tightly to the belief that we could overcome life’s hardships by being educated.

Contact: angela4fwschools@yahoo.com, 253-269-2268