Agency Leadership

Randy I. Dorn
superintendent@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-6004

Randy Dorn, Washington state’s 15th superintendent of public instruction, supports the state’s 295 school districts and nine educational service districts. Together they administer basic education programs and implement education reform to the more than one million students in the state. Superintendent Dorn:

• Distributes millions of dollars in state and federal money to districts.
• Works with districts to ensure school buildings and buses are safe.
• Creates statewide learning standards.
• Monitors the teacher certification process, and provides professional development for teachers.
• Oversees recommendations for textbooks and classroom materials.
• Oversees an assessment system that monitors how students are learning the statewide standards.

As head of OSPI, Superintendent Dorn also directs an agency of about 400 employees.

Alan Burke, Deputy Superintendent
K-12 Education
alan.burke@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-6343

The Deputy Superintendent for K-12 Education has supervising responsibility for Teaching and Learning, Assessment and Student Information, Career and College Readiness, District and School Improvement and Accountability, Special Programs and Federal Accountability, and Student Support. The Deputy Superintendent:

• Represents the Superintendent in K-12 outreach efforts.
• Coordinates agency responses to inquiries about K-12 issues.
• Supervises administrators who have direct responsibility for K-12 operations.
• Serves as a member of the OSPI Executive Leadership Team.

Robert Butts, Assistant Superintendent
Public Policy and Planning
bob.butts@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-0420

The Division of Public Policy and Planning is responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of Superintendent Dorn’s major policy initiatives. In doing so, the division:

• Works closely with parents, educators, higher education, foundations, and other governmental organizations.
• Coordinates OSPI’s rule-making process and the development of OSPI’s strategic plan.

Bob Harmon, Assistant Superintendent
Special Programs and Federal Accountability
bob.harmon@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-6170

Special Programs and Federal Accountability assists school districts in raising the academic achievement of students who face the challenges of disability, poverty, second language acquisition, learning difficulty, and mobility by ensuring that students are given an equitable opportunity to learn using the best available resources and methods. The division:

• Oversees iGrants, an Internet-based system for federal and state grant applications, grant request for proposals (RFPs), and end-of-year reports.
• Supervises Special Education, Title I (LAP & Consolidated Program Reviews), Title II (Highly Qualified Teachers) and Migrant & Bilingual Education.

Erin Jones, Assistant Superintendent
Student Achievement
erin.jones@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-6164

Student Achievement seeks to address the needs of all students and develop a strategic plan to make sure all students in Washington state, regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic background, graduate with the skills to be successful in life. As the Assistant Superintendent for Student Achievement, Jones will disseminate information about best practices in successful districts across the state. Student Achievement:

• Oversees the Center for the Improvement of Student Learning, the Teacher Assistance Program and Troops to Teachers.
• Focuses on creating a repository of best-practices and building bridges between schools, families and communities.
• Oversees achievement gap studies and dropout prevention in Washington state.

Ken Kanikeberg, Chief of Staff
ken.kanikeberg@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-6115

The Chief of Staff oversees internal agency operations and external agency programs; he also provides leadership and resources for improving curriculum, instruction, and assessment to support districts in implementing the four learning goals, so all students develop skills necessary for their future. The Chief of Staff:

• Directs the administration of agency operations.
• Manages the development, administration, and evaluation of agency policies and procedures that assist staff in operations of the agency.
• Oversees all divisions within the agency and directs oversight of Financial Resources, Governmental Relations, and Human Resources.
• Works with staff to provide necessary leadership and resources to allow them to work to improve curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
• Develops, implements, and oversees key projects and programs on behalf of the Superintendent.

Shawn Lewis, Chief Financial Officer
K-12 Financial Services and Governmental Relations
shawn.lewis@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-6292

The chief financial officer oversees two sections: K-12 Financial Services and Governmental Relations. As such, the CFO is responsible for the distribution of state and federal funding, including funding for construction and pupil transportation; for agency budgeting; for research on school funding; for collecting data on enrollment, personnel and financial information; and for the oversight of state and federal education policy.

K-12 Financial Resources

• School Apportionment and Financial Services
• Grants Management
• School Facilities and Organization
• Budget Office
• Agency and Fiscal Services
• Audit Management and Resolution/iGrants
• Pupil Transportation and Traffic Safety Education

Governmental Relations

• State and Local Stakeholders
• Public Policy and Planning
• Federal Liaison

Kathleen Lopp, Assistant Superintendent
Career and College Readiness
kathleen.lopp@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-6249

Career and College Readiness works to promote the quality and rigor of Career and Technical Education and Secondary Education courses, provide students with options that link middle school to high school and to post-secondary opportunities, blend academic and technical studies, and most importantly, connect students to their goals for the future. Career and College Readiness:

• Manages Career and Technical Education programs that lead to industry certification, apprenticeships, and college degrees.
• Supervises Skills Centers that specialize in high-cost, high-demand programs.
• Manages High Demand grants, equivalency credit opportunities, and Running Start for the Trades.
• Oversees Perkins Federal legislation.

Tom Lopp, Assistant Superintendent
Federal and State Legislation
tom.lopp@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-4971

The office of Federal and State Legislation provides a direct link to federal and state legislators to move the priorities of the Superintendent forward.

At the federal level, the office of Federal and State Legislation:

• Builds continuous strong relationships with Washington’s Congressional delegation.
• Provides timely information to the delegation on exiting federal programs and new proposals.
• Serves as federal liaison for the Superintendent to the Council of Chief State School Officers.
• Works with advocacy groups to shape and influence federal legislation.
• Maintains a continuous strong relationship with the Department of Education and other federal agencies, and serves as a conduit for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

At the state level, the office of Federal and State Legislation:

• Maintains external and internal partnerships with business, labor and education leaders.
• Works with legislators and legislative staff.
• Focuses on career and technical education and workforce legislation, and provides leadership on Navigation 101 legislative issues.
• Provides advocacy on OSPI request legislations.

Martin Mueller, Assistant Superintendent
Student Support
martin.mueller@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-6175

Student Support’s primary purpose is to support the academic success of all learners through a broad range of programs and services, including Pupil Transportation, Child Nutritional Services, the Office of Professional Practices, Learning and Teaching Support, the Washington State School Safety Center, and non-public education (private education and home-based instruction). Student Support:

• Mitigates barriers to learning.
• Assists schools and districts to develop/improve systems that support student academic success.
• Strives to ensure that every student attends a school that is safe, healthy, and engaging, and that every student arrives safely at school every day healthy and eager to learn.
• Collaborates with other agencies around the needs of children, families, and communities.

Robin Munson, Assistant Superintendent
Assessment and Student Information
robin.munson@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-6334

The Assessment and Student Information division produces and implements state and federally required tests and collects and reports information about Washington’s public school students. The division:

• Administers assessments in reading, mathematics, writing, and science in grades 3-8 and high school.
• Monitors student progress toward meeting testing requirements for high school graduates, including approved assessment options.
• Coordinates the regular collection and reporting of student data from school districts.
• Disseminates formative assessments for teachers to use in the classroom for the purpose of monitoring instruction and improving learning.

Dan Newell, Assistant Superintendent
Secondary Education and School Improvement
dan.newell@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-4954

Dan Newell is the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education and School Improvement at the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). He plays a vital leadership role in shaping statewide education initiatives by helping to oversee and implement high school graduation requirements, extended learning opportunities, and creative high school design. In his role he also provides oversight regarding the implementation requirements for high school programs such as Navigation 101—a life skills and planning program for students in grades Kindergarten through 12. He is in charge of dropout prevention, graduation requirements and dual enrollment programs for the state of Washington, and works to ensure that Washington’s students have access to the information and support they need to make informed decisions about their education. Dan also oversees the District and School Improvement program which provide on-site assistance to struggling schools and districts around the state. Currently, four separate yet highly collaborative initiatives comprise the primary scope of work for this position. These initiatives include the Washington Improvement and Implementation Network (WIIN), Washington MERIT Schools (School Improvement Grant), the Summit District Improvement Initiative and District Improvement Assistance (DIA). The division:

• Supports the Deputy Superintendent in providing leadership and assistance to secondary education.
• Collaborates with the Assistant Superintendent of Career and College Readiness to support the improvement of instructional leadership.
• Oversees graduation requirements (High School and Beyond, senior project, exams, credits).
• Oversees dropout prevention in Washington state.
• Responds to inquiries and concerns from teachers, administrators, and parents and follows up with appropriate action and resolution.
• Provides support and recognition of efforts to secondary schools by regular visitations.
• Oversees state/federal dual enrollment programs (such as Running Start) and high school graduation requirements.
• Administers Navigation 101, a life skills and planning program for students in grades K through 12.
• Oversees the District and School Improvement program, Washington Improvement and Implementation Network (WIIN), Washington MERIT Schools (School Improvement Grant), and the Summit District Improvement Initiative and District Improvement Assistance (DIA)

Ben Rarick, Executive Director
State Board of Education
ben.rarick@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-6027

The Washington State Board of Education’s role in the K-12 system is to lead the development of state policy, provide system oversight, and advocate for student success. The Board is comprised of 16 members, and is supported by a staff of six. The Board:

• Ensures that all children in Washington receive an equitable and excellent education through a continuous system of improvement for schools and districts through a fair and transparent accountability system.
• Develops a system of graduation requirements that will result in improving student preparation for post-secondary education and the 21st century world of work and citizenship.
• Increases the graduation rate and develops ways to personalize education.
• Works with our partners to develop a systematic approach so that students and teachers receive the support they need to learn and teach under the new math and science standards.

Peter Tamayo, Chief Information Officer
Information Technology Services
peter.tamayo@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-6372

The Information Technology Services (ITS) coordinates the integration of technology to improve teaching and learning in the state of Washington by providing leadership and management of technology, a telecommunications infrastructure, and the tools for students, teachers and administrators in the K-12 sector.

• Provides technical support to the K-12 Web site and develops and maintains software for OSPI and the school districts.
• Supports and manages the OSPI IT infrastructure including video conferencing.
• Develops, manages and supports projects, programs, training and successful practices that integrate technology into teaching and learning.
• Conducts data mining and reporting to comply with OSPI, state, and federal reporting requirements.

Jessica Vavrus, Assistant Superintendent
Teaching and Learning
jessica.vavrus@k12.wa.us
(360) 725-6417

The Teaching and Learning division encompasses a broad spectrum of content areas and programs including, reading, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, health and fitness, environment and sustainability education, sexual health education, international education, world languages, learning and technology support, and early learning. Through leadership, service, and research-based approaches focused on system-wide alignment among standards, assessment and instruction, with the goal of ensuring that all learners achieve at high levels, the division:

• Leads the development, review, and revision of all of Washington’s K-12 learning standards.
• Provides professional development and technical assistance in partnership with education leaders and regional and local stakeholders statewide to build a coherent and consistent system of support for implementation of state standards.
• Partners with other OSPI divisions and state/regional stakeholders to support integration and coordination of programs and activities, including the development of state formative assessment systems and implementation of OSPI-developed assessment in social studies, the arts, and health and fitness.
• Administers federal, state, and privately funded programs focused on improving widespread teaching and learning.