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Below you will find resources to help you learn more about the Northshore School Board Director candidates, our candidate forum and the upcoming election. Disclaimer: Northshore Council PTSA does not support or oppose any candidate (appointed or elected) for public office. This blog post is to assist the community in making informed judgments in the election. Northshore Council PTSA School Board Candidate Forum 2025 Photo Left to Right: Carson Sanderson, Sandy Hayes, Kimberlee Kelly The Northshore School board is made up of five Board members who are elected at large for four-year terms on a staggered basis. The board is the policy-making body for the district and makes decisions regarding school district priorities, policies, personnel, textbooks, expenditures, and growth management. The Board adopts the annual budget and also proposes levy and bond issues for community consideration. This November 2025, School Board Director positions 1, 4 and 5 will be up for election for terms ending in 2029. (Links for each candidate below is from King County Elections website) District No. 1 Carson Sanderson District No. 4 Sandy R Hayes JoAnn Tolentino District No. 5 Kimberlee Kelly Lynda Schram Northshore Director District Map Board members represent the district at large although they must reside in specific geographical areas of the district. Voters within the Northshore School District boundaries are able to vote for all school board director positions. 2025 Online Voters' Pamphlets:King County pamphlets in additional languages:
If you are turning 18 prior to the November Election it is not too late to register. Sign up online at VoteWA.gov with your Washington state driver’s license, permit, or ID – or - fill out a paper registration form using the last four digits of your Social Security number and mail it in. Visit our Advocacy Page to learn more about Northshore Council PTSA's advocacy efforts.
Questions? Please contact Council Co-VPs of Advocacy, Brenae Brix & Stephanie Sullivan, at [email protected]
Online Meeting Hosting can be used by any local PTA/PTSA that wants Council to host a Zoom meeting for them. Please note that max number of attendees is 100 and that this service is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Here is how it works:
Thank you to those who were able to join us for our 2024-2025 Spring Recognition event!
The evening was filled with conversation, laughter, good eats and celebration. During our event, we were able to highlight the amazing work that our PTA/PTSAs are doing. Check out the video below to see GREATNESS in action! Please take a moment to fill out our post event survey! We would love all PTA presidents to fill it out whether or not you had anyone from your school attend. And, please, pass the survey along to your attendees to complete as well! During the Spring Recognition Celebration on June 4, 2025, Northshore Council PTSA recognized a few special people who go above and beyond in service to our community and promote the well-being and education of children in our district and beyond. Below are this year's Northshore Council PTSA Recognition Awards Recipients. Congratulations!
A special thank you to this year's Awards Committee members: Diana Christiansen, Tracy Jokisch and Jane Chiodo. Learn more about PTA Recognition Awards and how your PTA can recognize those who go above and beyond in your school community. Please take a few minutes to check the links for your PTA. Need to update a link? Email [email protected]
Be sure to let us know of any updates soon!
We'll be promoting memberships for all Northshore PTAs/PTSAs at the NSD Back to School Resource Fair happening in August at Pop Keeney! Awards are a great way for PTAs to show their volunteers and community members how much they appreciate them and to celebrate the dedication of those who support the PTA's mission and goals. Many PTAs participate in WSPTA's formal volunteer award recognition program, which allows them to honor outstanding educators, advocates, student advocates, and volunteers (Golden Acorn). A portion of the cost of these awards goes directly toward the WSPTA Scholarship Program, benefiting students. This means the recognition given to our amazing volunteers also helps students pay for continued education, making it a gift that keeps on giving! Below is the 2024-2025 list of award recipients from PTAs across Northshore School District! Congratulations! 2024-2025 |
PTA |
Award |
Arrowhead Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn - Heather Buchanan Golden Acorn - Aleksandra Zydor Outstanding Educator - Alma Howe Outstanding Advocate - Becky Fukuda Honorary Lifetime Membership - Nikki Noble |
Bear Creek Campus PTSA |
Golden Acorn Award - Alynda Silcox Golden Acorn Award - Rick Silcox Outstanding Educator Award - Leslie Harwood Outstanding Educator Award - Karyn Brady Outstanding Advocate Award - Brian Matthias |
Canyon Creek Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn - Ashley Watts Outstanding Educator - Rochelle Burns Outstanding Advocate - Shannon Cook |
Cottage Lake Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn - Venece Lyman Golden Sailboat Award (Outstanding Educator) - Linda Mismas Golden Anchor Award (Outstanding Staff Member) - Sarah McKinnon Golden Captain Lifetime Award (Celebrating Over Three Decades of Service) - Sam Maynard |
Frank Love Elementary PTA |
Outstanding Volunteer - Renae Sowald Outstanding Educator - Rebecca Wynkoop Outstanding Advocate - Stephanie Sullivan |
Lockwood Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn - Kris Somol Hamasaki Outstanding Educator - Tracy Hetherington Outstanding Advocate - Carly Lawhead |
Leota Middle School PTSA |
Golden Acorn - Monika Jilka Outstanding Educator - Tavina Flood Outstanding Advocate - Heather Hoskeer Outstanding Student Advocate - Dylan M. |
Inglemoor High School PTSA |
Golden Acorn - Genoveva Marin Golden Acorn - Erin Schultz Outstanding Educator - Katrina Allemeier Outstanding Advocate - Kris Winkel-Leddige Outstanding Student Advocate - Annabelle Y. Honorary Lifetime Membership - Rich Kobylka |
Innovation Lab HS PTSA |
Golden Acorn - Mo Diehl Outstanding Advocate - Jane Chiodo Outstanding Student Advocate - M. S. Outstanding Student Advocate - Sarah Z. |
Kenmore Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn - Kellie Corcoran Golden Acorn - Sarah Linville |
Maywood Hills Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn - Vanessa Arnaiz Martinez-Malo Outstanding Educator - Megan Ham Outstanding Educator - Jennifer Deskin Outstanding Advocate - Allegra Hollenbeck Outstanding Advocate - Zandra Leitch Tiger Paw Award - Amy Dirkes, Bekka Gunderson, Cathy Baker, Chelsea Nelson, Elizabeth Krout, Kate Richards, Kathleen Wick, Krystal Davis, Maija Waugh, Rachel Asimakopoulos, Renee Heizenga, Sarah Hanson |
Moorlands Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn - Brynn Noggle Outstanding Educator - Alison Thompson Outstanding Advocate - Danelle Gunderson Outstanding Advocate - Amanda Martinka Lifetime Membership - Christine Hammers |
Northshore Middle School PTSA |
Golden Acorn - Veronica Webb Outstanding Educator - Corey Wackerly Outstanding Educator - Katherine Edwards Outstanding Advocate - Mare Sullivan |
Northshore Special Education Community PTSA |
Golden Acorn - Mr. Michael Tolley |
Ruby Bridges Elementary PTSA |
Golden Acorn - Brittany Badali Outstanding Educator - Kim Reiprich Outstanding Advocate - Aaron Cokley |
Woodin Elementary PTA |
Golden Acorn - Michele Ngo Outstanding Educator - Amy Walsh Outstanding Educator - Stacey Dixey Outstanding Advocate - Terise Waters Outstanding Volunteer - Carmen Tapia Honorary Lifetime Membership - Victoria Kramer |
Why Apply Now?
Our early bird grant submission deadline is AUGUST 30, 2025. This is an excellent opportunity to secure approval and get your event on people's calendars at the start of the year. Early planning and funding can ensure a smooth and successful event.
About the Grant Program
The Education Speakers & Community Events Grant Program is designed to support PTA initiatives that enrich the educational experience and foster community engagement. Whether you're looking to host a prominent speaker or organize a community-building event, this grant can provide the necessary funds to make it happen.
How to Apply
Learn more about the Education Speakers & Community Events Grant Program and submit your application today. Don't miss this chance to get ahead in your planning and make a positive impact in your community right from the start of the school year.
Apply for a grant for your PTA now and kickstart your fall programming!
Questions? Email [email protected].
- Be sure to recognize and thank your volunteers.
- Survey your members and review your 2024-2025 goals.
- Approve next year's budget and approve any changes to the standing rules.
- Recruit candidates for non-elected PTA board of directors and chair positions.
- Give your team a deadline for submitting their reimbursable expenses to the treasurer so that books can be closed on June 30th.
- Appoint your end of year Financial Review team. A financial review is required by your PTA insurance and should be completed soon after books close on June 30th. The PTA President needs to appoint 3 or more members of your PTA who were non-signers on your bank account for the period being reviewed. WSPTA has a financial review checklist to help guide the team. Visit the "Leadership Guides" section of the WSPTA website, scroll to "Board Resources" and click on "Finance" (ask your current PTA leadership for the username and password to access these resources!)
| Bookkeeping tasks......
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- Hold transition meetings for outgoing and incoming board members and chairs.
- Give new leaders access to digital or hard-copy files. Be sure to reset your passwords on July 1st.
- Set dates for your summer retreat. Learn more below!
- Review and update policies. Check out Council’s policies here.
- Plan your fall membership drive.
- Encourage new officers to take training over the summer. Consider attending the August Leadership Launch event hosted by WSPTA. This virtual event is a great way to get some training on board before the new school year starts!
- Share all the ways the incoming board can connect with Council.
- Plan your NSD facility use requests for 2025-2026. Designate one board of directors member as your PTA/PTSA contact for facilities.
- Schedule ahead so that people know when it is going to be. Prioritize having the whole team there.
- Make it fun. A game? A picnic? Whatever seems fun to your board and would help you get to know each other! There are a ton of team-building activities like 2 Truths and a Lie that can help you all get to know each other a little better.
- Give out some homework. To save time, ask everyone to read or fill out a few documents in advance. Examples might include:
- Contact information (including preferences)
- Your PTA's Standing Rules
- Your PTA's Budget
- Your PTA Standards of Conduct
- Your PTA Money Handling Policy
- Your PTA Social Media Policy
- Create an agenda. Although you don’t have to take minutes at a Retreat (since you are not voting on anything), it’s good to have a schedule and try to stick to it.
| What Should be on your Retreat Agenda....... Create your calendar as best you can. Get down your meetings and some of your bigger events. Review the Budget and Standing Rules. Discuss your team’s communication norms and individual expectations. Brainstorm new ideas for Membership, Advocacy, Family Engagement, programs and events. |
- Sharing the floor at meetings to get everyone’s ideas.
- How to use email. What response time am I expecting? Should I reply all?
- When to use the phone. How late is it okay to call?
- What is confidential and what is not.
- Text message usage. Texting is a great resource when someone forgot the ice on the way to the Back- to-School fair. Texting is NOT a great place to: Discuss other board members\students\ families\or staff members, conduct PTA Business, make committee decisions when there are other committee members not on the text message thread, settle disagreements or blow off steam. It’s best to keep business communications and your friendship communication separate.
- When are you ‘off’ work.
- Who posts on social media.
Check out this great blog from 2021: Summer Board Retreat - Northshore Council PTSA 6.10!
Continue reading below for a recap of the meeting including the decision regarding Council fees charged to Northshore PTAs!
- Marco Garcia, NSD Community Partnerships & Volunteer Coordinator
Summer meal deliveries are being organized. Information will be shared on how to sign up to receive a meal and how to sign up to volunteer to drive meals to people's homes. During the Spring, NSD has been hosting free English language classes at Canyon Park Middle School. They plan to survey participants and hope to start again in the Fall. For more information, e-mail Marco at [email protected].
Council Committee Updates
- Advocacy – The legislative session is over, and the state budget will be signed soon. Advocacy Coalition meetings will continue. Stay tuned for possible meetups over summer!
- Grants- Council granted funds for events to 5 PTAs this year.
- Events – RSVPs for Council's Spring Recognition event were due on May 19th. The new superintendent will be attending the event!
- Membership – We have 4,796 PTA members in Northshore! Our current Membership chair, Alison T., would like a co-chair to help with membership for next year. If you are interested, please reach out to [email protected].
- Communications – Discussed different forms of communications; eNews email newsletter, Facebook page and private groups, Instagram and website. Be sure to let Council know about your new officers!
- E-Prep – Reunification signs that were purchased for Northshore School district were displayed. Both Council E-Prep chairs are retiring and are looking for new volunteers to step up to ensure that once a month meetings with the District Safety and Security team continue. If you are interested, please reach out to [email protected].
- Elementary & Secondary Support – Council plans on hosting PTA leader meet ups again next year. The biggest question on PTA leader's minds right now is about positions that are not filled for next year. There was a reminder for PTA leaders to share photos from their events/programs for our Council Spring Recognition slide show and to share their PTA award winners.
- Treasurer's Report - Reviewed the April 2025 report as well as the restricted fund balance and Council fees still owed by PTAs.
- New Council fee structure proposals were reviewed and voted on. Two proposals were passed.
- Northshore Council PTSA will waive Council membership fees for the 2025-26 school year. Council will collect a Grant fee of $50 from all Northshore PTA/PTSAs, excluding Northshore Special Education Community (NSEC) PTSA and Sorenson PTA. The $50 Grant fee will be put into a restricted fund and only be used for the Council Grant Program. This will only be a temporary measure. Beginning July 1, 2026, Council fees will return to the fee structure that is in the Council Standing Rules, whatever that may be. The goal is to spend down accumulated funds, give PTAs a reprieve from some fees for a year, and give time to research new fee structure options that could be implemented July 1, 2026 (pending member approval).
- Beginning July 1, 2026, there will be a new fee structure. Currently, that structure will be a $200 annual fee. PTA/PTSAs of Title 1 schools will pay $100. Northshore Special Education Community (NSEC) PTSA and Sorenson PTA will not pay a fee. There will no longer be a per membership fee, or a $100 Council programs fee charged. This may change as Council researches new fee structure options over the next several months to propose to membership.
- The 2025-2026 Council Budget was reviewed and approved.
- Reviewed and approved a Standing Rules change to reflect the new proposed Council fee structure. This Council fee Standing Rules change will go into effect for the 2026-2027 school year.
- The Council Spring Recognition event will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, from 5:30-8pm at Eastside Church. We hope to see you there!
- Be sure to plan for PTA transitions! Northshore Council can help! Contact Elementary and Secondary VPs of Support for more information!
We hope you will continue to join us for our General Membership Meetings in the 2025-2026 school year!
Awards of Excellence
Membership Awards
WSPTA Membership Awards in 2024-2025!!
- Bronze Award: recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling at least one more member than their previous year’s total membership.
- Silver Award: recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling PTA members equaling at least 105% of their previous year’s total membership.
- Gold Award: recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling PTA members equaling at least 110% of their previous year’s total membership.
- Platinum Award: recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling PTA members equaling at least 120% of their previous year’s total membership.
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