Northshore Council PTSA invites you to attend the School Board Candidates Meet & Greet. Enjoy coffee and baked treats while getting to know the Northshore School Board candidates in a casual setting at the park. There is no formal Q&A at this event. All four candidates who filed to run for Northshore School Board have been invited to attend by Northshore Council PTSA.
Questions? Email advocacy@northshorecouncilptsa.org Primary elections will be held on Tuesday, August 1st. Voter registration information available. Register to vote or update your registration information today! Disclaimer: Northshore Council PTSA does not support or oppose any candidate (appointed or elected) for public office. This event is to assist the community in making an informed judgment in the election of its school board. School Board Candidates
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Director District No. 2 Candidate
☐ Elisabeth Sotak Candidate is unopposed and will not appear on Primary Ballot in August, but will appear on the November ballot. |
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.
Outstanding Advocate - Amelie Fry The Outstanding Student Advocate Award recognizes students who have made significant contributions through leadership and service in their school and community. Northshore Council PTSA’s 2023 Outstanding Student Advocate is Amelie Fry. Amelie has served on Northshore School District’s student board for three years, organized voter registration drives and worked hard to get youth involved in local politics. She has also been in attendance at several School Board meetings, even getting up to speak at some—not an easy task for a teenager to do these days. Amelie has worked with Northshore Council’s mental health and DEI committees, recently presenting at Council’s RARE event. She is also passionate about the arts, having participated in Council’s Reflections program, both as a contestant and for two years as a volunteer judge. This student is dedicated to helping others. Congratulations, Amelie! Outstanding Service - Kelly Hennessey The Outstanding Service Award is the highest volunteer award given by the Washington State PTA. It is awarded to someone who has gone beyond his or her own school community, job, or PTA in order to give dedicated volunteer service to children. This year, the Outstanding Service Award was presented to Kelly Hennessey. Like many other PTA volunteers, Kelly balances a career and family with volunteer work on her local PTA boards as well as other youth sports boards, and does an amazing job in those roles alone. However, there is another role Kelly occupies that has had a major impact on families across the district. For several years, she has been the driving force behind Threads and Treads, a free clothing bank for families in the Northshore School District. Her time is not limited to looking for grants or setting up clothing donation drives; she also coordinates a core group of adult volunteers and organizes youth volunteers throughout the school year to provide a space for students and their families to come “shop” for clothing. The environment she has created has helped families feel welcome and relaxed, it provides a space where people not only shop for clothes but also feel part of a community. Congratulations, Kelly! | Outstanding Advocate - Juliana Fisher The Outstanding Advocate Award honors individuals for their continued and dedicated service to ALL children demonstrating a commitment to speaking up for children in the areas relating to health, welfare, safety, and education of children and youth. Northshore Council PTSA’s 2023 Outstanding Advocate is Juliana Fisher, Northshore School District’s Director of Food Services. Juliana has seen firsthand the benefits of the free lunch for all program last school year for Northshore students and has advocated in Olympia for increased funding. She has also worked to create more varied communication of school lunch menus, including social media and a visual menu that makes the menu more accessible to elementary students and students with disabilities. In addition to her work behind the scenes, Juliana has presented at local PTAs as well as Council to help educate families, provide resources and talk about current legislation in Washington state related to school meals. Congratulations, Juliana! Golden Acorn - Mary Khouzam The Golden Acorn Award is presented to a Northshore Council PTSA volunteer in recognition of their dedication and service to children and youth. This year's Golden Acorn was presented to Mary Khouzam. The Nominators’ words to describe Mary include compassionate, dedicated, professional and inspiring. Mary has been a staple on the boards of many local PTAs over the years, as well as on Northshore Council PTSA’s board the past three years. She frequently volunteers to be on committees, asking balanced questions and bringing up a fresh perspective to make sure all angles are considered. Mary has created subcommittees to work on proposals put before Council, looking first for perspective or background on the issue at hand and then holding productive, task-based meetings to keep things on point. This year, with no VP of Events, Mary stepped in to ensure that Council could put on two major events in person for the first time in three years. Congratulations, Mary! |
Outstanding Educator - Cheryl Klemz The Outstanding Educator Award honors individuals who go beyond the normal expectations of their jobs to make the learning environment fun, beneficial, and challenging. One of two Outstanding Educator Awards was presented to Cheryl Klemz of Canyon Park Middle School. Cheryl has been teaching secondary school in the Northshore School District for 20 years. She is well-respected by their fellow staff members, having served on several school committees including SDLT, Climate and Culture Committee and more. Cheryl has created a classroom environment where all students feel welcome to share their talents and ideas without ridicule or judgement. Her classroom is a safe space for middle school students to be themselves, with many opting to hang out there during lunch time to hang out, be silly or just to connect with her. Perhaps the best way to summarize her impact is in the words of current and past students. “She is an engaging and enthusiastic teacher. She always told stories and her love of drama made me and others love drama. She was always aware of the students and would pull in anyone who was off by themselves. She let me be myself.” “She is so fun and outgoing! She makes acting on stage so interactive and I never feel anxious with her there!” “She is a truly amazing teacher! Not only does she put up with rowdy middle schoolers but she instructs them and guides them to create fully fledged productions. She inspires and empowers her students to work hard and explore their talents. She wants everyone to get their chance to shine, so much so that she goes through the trouble of managing not one but sometimes more than six different casts for a single show!” Congratulations, Cheryl! | Outstanding Educator - Christy Lipke The Outstanding Educator Award honors individuals who go beyond the normal expectations of their jobs to make the learning environment fun, beneficial and challenging. Northshore Council PTSA’s Outstanding Educator Award was also given to Christy Lipke of Woodin Elementary. Christy has been teaching in the Northshore School District for several years. She teaches our youngest learners and creates an experience for these students and their families that welcomes and includes all of them into the school community as well as fosters a love of learning. She utilizes several different communication tools to create a bridge from school to home where everyone feels connected, informed and equipped to help students succeed. Visitors to her kindergarten classroom note that the students are engaged, learning continuously, and are genuinely loved by their teacher. Christy's commitment to her students does not end at the classroom door. She also is active in the school’s PTA, can be seen helping at PTA events, has served as the PTA’s staff liaison and has personally recruited her kindergarten parents involved in PTA leadership. Three words to describe her as a teacher are caring, fun, and dedicated. Congratulations, Christy! |
Learn more about PTA Recogntion Awards and how your PTA can recognize those who go above and beyond in your school community.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM via Zoom Register in Advance | Northshore Council PTSA invites you to join us in viewing RARE's 30-minute film about race & equity in Seattle schools. Learn how we can do better in this documentary about race and education, based on the experiences of Roosevelt High School yesterday and today. Join us for a panel discussion, Wednesday, April 26th, on race and equity in the Northshore community which will feature student voices from around the district. |
Do you like planning events? Consider joining the the 2023-2024 Northshore Council PTSA Executive Board. Co-Chairs are welcome. Self Nominate by Thursday, April 27, 2023 Elections will be held for VP of Events and Secretary at the General Membership Meeting on May 15, 2023. |
VP of Events: Plans and coordinates Council's yearly events including Presidents and Principals Brunch, Reflections Celebration, and Spring Recognition Event.
Council will continue to seek volunteers for this position with the goal of holding an election at a future General Membership Meeting.
Qualification Requirements
Per the 2022-2023 Council Standing Rules:
All Candidates:
- Any position may be held jointly by two (2) people, except the role of Treasurer.
- Nominees must be at least 18 years of age.
- Nominees must be a current member of at least one local PTA that falls within the Northshore Council PTSA membership area.
Questions? Contact Council Co-Presidents, Rachel Fitzgerald and Mary Khouzam for more information.
Other Open Board Position - Secretary

Do you like to keep records and take notes?
Do you have good attention to detail?
Learn more about the Secretary role.
Thursday, February 9, 2023 | 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Register & More Information Here
Participants can attend 3 live sessions on February 9th. There will be an opportunity for Questions & Answers.
Over 15 virtual sessions will be offered, and topics include:
- College Application Process
- Paying for College
- Transfer, Tech, and 2-Year Programs
- Apprenticeships and Career Colleges
- ...and so much more!
Questions Regarding Registration? Email Lisa Allen at lallen@nsd.org.
This event is proudly sponsored in partnership with Northshore Council PTSA's Secondary Support and Northshore Schools Foundation.
Council Business:
Approval of the January 20th, 2022 Meeting Minutes which were accepted with minor changes. Approval of the preliminary budget for the 2022-2023 school year.
Election of our 2022-2023 officers:
Thank you to our hardworking Nominating Committee, Diana Christiansen, Cherry Holmes, and Jasmine Lee Fry, for putting together the slate of candidates! Diana Christiansen read the Nominating Report. The self-nomination period was held in accordance with our e-voting policy with no others submitting their names for nomination. The election script was followed with a reading from the WSPTA bylaws. A motion was cast to accept the slate as presented, seconded, and approved by a voice vote.
Congratulations to our incoming 2022-2023 officers!!
- For the Office of Co President: Rachel Fitzgerald and Mary Khouzam
- For the Office of First Vice President: Grace Jurado
- For the Office of Secretary: Open*
- For the Office of Treasurer: Serena Xu
- For the Office of VP of Events: Open*
- For the Office of VP of Advocacy: Jennifer Drury
- For the Office of VP of Communications: Jennifer Snyder
- For the Office of VP of Elementary Support: Diana Christiansen
- For the Office of VP of Secondary Support: Brenae Brix
*Please be advised that by the time the self-nomination period closed, no candidate had come forth for either Secretary or VP of Events. Council will continue to seek volunteers for these positions with the goal of holding elections for them at a future General Membership Meeting. If interested in serving in either of these roles on an interim basis, please contact us at president@northshorecouncilptsa.org.
District Updates:
- NSD Partnerships & Volunteer Coordinator Marco Garcia informed us that everything related to becoming a Northshore volunteer or being a campus visitor can now be completed on the Safe Visitor website for volunteers. He also let us know that the vaccine requirement has not been lifted. Finally, Community Serve Day will be August 21st 2022 with more information to come. Learn more about becoming a NSD volunteer.
- NSD School Board Updates: Director Amy Cast reviewed the technology parameters with us, reviewed strategic goals and indicators of progress as it has been five years, and reviewed the use of the Levy money including safety grants, work towards more school mental health professionals, nurses, as well as fewer portables etc. Learn more about NSD's School Board.
- Northshore School's Foundation: Hanisha Bakshani/NSF Ambassador North Creek High School let us know that the NSF All in For Kids event is March 31st, 2022 at 4pm at the Evergreen Church. Learn more about the Northshore School's Foundation.
Council Reports:
- Staff Appreciation: Rachel Fitzgerald informed us that we will have a virtual staff appreciation for district staff. Currently collecting thank you notes from the community to put together for the staff. There will be a different piece for the council to do as well. The deadline to collect notes and gather all the information is April 22nd. Learn more...
- Council Recognition Awards: Mary Khouzam updated us on Council recognition awards. This year we have an online form for nominations again which can be found here. If you would like to help with the awards recognition, please contact Mary at awards@northshorecouncilptsa.org.
- Speaker and Events Grants Program: Mary Khouzam let us know that grant program has closed for this year. Click here for Round 3 Recipients.
- Reflections: Jasmine Lee Fry updated us that we had 267 entries that were submitted to the council. 59 submissions were forwarded to the state. 4 entries won awards at the state level. Click here for judging results from both Council & WSPTA as well as a link to our Virtual Art Showcase.
- Special Education: Laura Staneff let us know that Council will hold a series of 4 webinars scheduled for free through PAVE. The first one was about IEPS and took place on March 22nd. There will be three other webinars in April, May and June. Learn more...
- Mental Health Committee: Melissa Kline & Pauline Wray updated that the Mental Health Committee's Digital Safety Event with Jo Langford happened on March 14th and was well attended. Currently the committee is working on getting Mental Health resource posters up in secondary schools. Finally, an anti-bullying article is currently up on our website and ask that you please share it with your communities.
- Membership: Hanisha Bakshani & Melissa Kline updated us that 21 PTAs are over their membership numbers from last year and we have a total of 5,337 members to date.
We hope you will join us for our next General Membership Meeting on May 16th, 2022 @ 7pm. This meeting will also include our annual Spring Recognition Event!
For a full list of our upcoming meetings and events, check out our Calendar.

We hope that you will be able to celebrate with your student and share this showcase with friends and family!
All 267 Northshore PTSA Council Qualifier student artworks are on display and we've indicated if the artwork was either a State Qualifier or a Judge's Choice Award recipient.
Click here to view Council's Judging Results.
We are pleased to present a FREE virtual screening of the film Angst. This film can be viewed at your leisure any time between April 2-8, 2022. Angst removes the stigma and opens up the conversation around anxiety, helping viewers understand and manage their symptoms and know when (and that it’s OK) to reach out for help. Through the perspectives of teenagers, their families, and experts who explain the symptoms – as well as a sentimental interview with Michael Phelps, Angst shows people that they are not alone, that anxiety is common, and that it is 100% treatable. |
Register for a viewing link here: https://forms.gle/QPTrFZbXaf6FcnKY9
Deadline to register is Friday, April 1st.
This event is co-sponsored by Kenmore Middle School PTSA and Northshore Council PTSA.
For questions, email Abby Polasko at treasurer@kenmoreptsa.org.
- Northshore Council PTSA's Mental Health Committee - "Digital Safety 101: The 3 Big Bads (Sexting, Cyberbullying, and Porn)" presented by Jo Langford - March 14, 2022 (Open to the Northshore community - Registration here.)
- Kenmore Middle School PTSA - "Angst Virtual Screening" - April 2-8, 2022 (Open to the Northshore community - Registration here.)
- Leota Middle School PTSA - “Helping Your Student Manage Stress" presented by zGirls - Spring 2022 (Open to the Northshore community - Registration Link Coming Soon!)
Local PTAs/PTSAs interested in partnering with Northshore Council PTSA to host speakers or events were able to apply for a Northshore Council PTSA Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant. 2021-2022 grants were offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and applications were reviewed by the Northshore Council PTSA. Submissions are no longer being accepted for the 2021-2022 school year, but this program will return in the Fall of 2022.
For more information about the grants program, visit our Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program page.

Journey to College: A Timeline for Students & Parents
Date: Wednesday, March 16th
Time: 7:00PM
Registration*: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrc-6prTooG9BTBlTrMtMvuTas66t9OjbC
This event will provide grade specific timelines to help students prepare for the college admissions process. A short Q&A session focused on the timeline will follow the presentation.
*Deadline to register is 4pm on Wednesday, March 16th.
Council hopes to offer a series of informational college prep sessions, each focusing on a different topic. Please keep your eye out for future communications with more details and dates. Future sessions will be posted to our Parent Education Opportunities page and shared on our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).
Questions? Email Council's VP of Secondary Support, Brenae Brix.
We look forward to seeing you at this and future Journey to College events!
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