We’re excited to share the latest updates, stories, and opportunities that WABS has to offer. Thank you for being part of the WABS community—your support and dedication continue to make an impact!

As we celebrate our 30th year, I am so grateful as I think about the support of all our amazing partners. Last year, WABS impacted over 5,750 students and 22,000 individuals. Over the course of WABS’ 30 year history, we have impacted over 600,000 students, parents, caregivers, and educators - a number that is truly staggering.

Last month, I had the pleasure of hearing directly from a Kent School District educator who had just completed the Teach2Connect program and the lasting impact the experience had on her students. Through a collaboration with the City of Kent Parks Department, her class tackled the challenge of designing a park, not just as an abstract exercise, but as a real-world exploration of what it takes to create inclusive, functional, and sustainable public spaces. 

The project encouraged students to think like designers, landscapers, and planners. What elements make a park truly accessible and enjoyable for everyone? What are the environmental impacts of different design choices? Who are the experts involved in bringing these ideas to life? Her students shared that now, when they visit a park, they notice what’s missing. They ask, “How could this space be better? What would make it easier for my grandparents to enjoy? What features would help kids of all abilities feel welcome?”

This experience shaped the way students think about design, problem-solving, and their role in their communities. It’s a reminder that we all play a part in exposing young minds to the possibilities around them - helping them to see beyond what exists and imagine what could be. 

The excitement from these students is undeniable. They aren’t just learning - they’re envisioning the future. And that is a lesson that lasts far beyond the classroom. 

Thank you for being here with us and collaborating to create opportunity and access. I look forward to many more years of working together to ensure students furthest from opportunity can pursue a future that embraces their strengths, passions, and dreams.

In Partnership,

Doug Baldwin Jr. is the Chief Executive Officer of Vault89 and Founder of the Family First Community Center. Doug is a philanthropic activist with a passion for creating empathic solutions to complex challenges. As the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service Award and the Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award, the former Seattle Seahawk and Super Bowl Champion is the youngest ever appointee to the WA State Clemency and Pardons Board. But most importantly, Doug is a blessed husband and father.

Taanvi Arekapudi is a Northshore School District student and international bestselling author of Uplift Teens Today, the first teen-to-teen mental health book. She created the Emotion Cards Deck and founded Nexus: Mental Health Hub for Schools. Through her nonprofit, Uplift Teens Today, she develops resources to support youth mental health. Taanvi collaborates with the Washington Health Care Authority, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and serves on NAMI’s board. She is also part of Harvard's Student Advisory Council, Boston’s Wellness Lab, and the Macy Social Impact Team. 

Join us as we celebrate our impact and cheers to a collective vision of the future: Equity in every school. Opportunity for every student. The evening will feature a reception, silent auction, and plated dinner. Mark your calendars for March 18th, 2025, from 5-8pm. Tickets are on sale now!

We are thrilled to welcome Matt Allen as the newest member of the WABS Board of Directors, representing McKinstry.

For over six years, WABS and McKinstry have worked hand-in-hand to enhance educational and career pathways for K-12 students across Washington State. We look forward to the leadership and strategic insights that Mr. Allen will bring to the WABS Board. 

Through partnerships like the one we share with McKinstry, WABS bridges the gap between education and industry, creating career connected learning experiences that connect students with career pathways, fostering awareness and interest in fields that align with their aspirations.

These real-world problem-solving activities make STEM engaging and accessible for all ages.

Industry partners like McKinstry and Boeing are game-changers, providing invaluable mentorship and support alongside dedicated parent volunteers, known as Natural Leaders. Their teamwork ensures a welcoming and impactful experience for every participant.

Seahurst Elementary kicked off the FSN series with an incredible event, thanks to Jessica Ma, Assistant Principal; Rocio Ceja, Family and Community Engagement Specialist; Natural Leader parents Deborah Donis and Michelle May; and McKinstry volunteers Phil Marr and Sharon Osborne. Their teamwork made it a night to remember! 

With events running across multiple districts from January to May 2025, Family STEM Night is more than just a night of learning—it’s a powerful way to connect families, schools, and industry leaders while bringing STEM to life!

Want to bring Family STEM Night to your school?
Contact us at familystemnight@wabsalliance.org for more details. Industry professionals looking to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders can sign up below. Let’s make this year’s FSN the most impactful yet!

while learning about physics, force, and energy conservation. This hands-on experience highlighted how engineering principles can address real-world challenges and drive innovation.

The program culminated in an exciting presentation where students showcased their creations to friends and family. The program was made possible with the support of Lake Stickney Principal Heidi Straus, 4th-grade teacher Morgan Akhlaghi, several dedicated staff members, and five incredible volunteers from The Boeing Company. These volunteers served as powerful role models as women working in a STEM-related field, inspiring students with their stories and expertise.

We’re thrilled to announce that Lake Stickney Elementary, along with 34 schools across WA, will host STEM4Good again in this session, where students will design Salmon-friendly waterways!

Volunteer with STEM4Good!
As a trained STEM4Good volunteer, you'll inspire elementary and middle school students by guiding them through fun, hands-on STEM experiences to help them explore solutions to local challenges and discover STEM pathways. Contact us at volunteer@wabsalliance.org for more details or sign up below! 

The Natural Leaders Academy empowers families to become leaders in their school communities through comprehensive training. A key part of the academy is the development of a leadership project—a chance for families to identify a need and create a solution. This year, parent Itzel G., a graduate of the Academy, turned her focus to a critical gap she saw in college engagement at the elementary level.   

Itzel recognized that college visits are typically geared towards high school students, leaving younger children and their families out of the conversation. She believes that sparking an interest in college early on is essential, and that including families in the experience is even more vital. Her vision? A college campus visit designed specifically for elementary school families.

Itzel’s project proposal emphasizes the importance of introducing young children to college as an exciting and achievable opportunity. By highlighting the power of family involvement and encouraging open, positive conversations, she is helping to build a strong foundation for a college-going culture. Her inspiring work ensures that every child sees higher education as a real possibility. We are so proud to see our Natural Leaders graduates creating meaningful change in their school communities!

“I’m thrilled to share that the Lakeridge Elementary 5th grade class will be visiting the University of Washington this April! Thanks to Principal Umail and his incredible staff, 50 students will have the opportunity to take a college tour with secured transportation. We’re planning a photo scavenger hunt and a vision board lunch break to make the experience even more engaging. Additionally, we’re collaborating with Lakeridge teachers who are UW alumni to hopefully arrange a behind-the-scenes look at the band area and stadiums.”

Itzel G.
Natural Leader, Renton School District

Career Tours are well underway for the 2024-25 school year with plans to serve over 3,000 students across the state by June. So far, students have experienced everything from construction to creative arts, hospitality to hospitals, maritime to manufacturing, and technology to trades – no industry is excluded! As of February, over 60 tours have taken place across Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Spokane Counties, with another 60+ planned for spring. Thank you to our constellation of industry partners who open their doors to providing onsite career connected learning opportunities for students. 

Through a collaboration with Life Sciences Washington, WABS has begun partnering with the Allen Institute in Seattle. This year’s partnership with the Allen Institute has enabled us to provide 10 tours, serving nearly 300 students with career exploration in biosciences across 7 school districts including: Highline, Renton, Edmonds, Northshore, Seattle, Bellevue, and Lake Washington students. 

What students are saying:  “It introduced me into a very interesting world of neuroscience and biotechnology and I am in awe. Inspired to be part of this field in my professional career and create wonderful changes!!”

Pictured: Mt. Rainer HS students at the Allen Institute. 

We have open volunteer opportunities with our after-school programs. Help us bring career awareness and collaborative skill-building through hands-on activities to over 1,000 students (grades 3-8). 

When you volunteer through WABS, you’re joining a network of people who are giving back so students can thrive. Use your time and talent to empower students to embrace their strengths, passions, and dreams — join our community of change makers today! 

Work with WABS

Check out current opportunities to join our team!

Washington Alliance for Better Schools

18560 1st Avenue NE
Shoreline, WA 98155 US

EIN: 91-1698851

Nonprofit 501(c)(3)

wabsalliance.org