The WFIS Board of Directors convened for the first time this academic year, welcoming several new members and setting the stage for a year of advocacy and strategic growth. Held at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) headquarters, the meeting included a warm welcome from Mick Hoffman, the WIAA’s executive director. With representatives from diverse school groups, the WFIS board steers the advocacy efforts for private schools. The WFIS website has a full list of board members, along with their photos. Our schools span the state, and we look forward to hosting future board meetings in Olympia and Spokane.
What sets the WFIS board apart is its proactive approach to discussing and debating complex and often challenging issues. The board remains deeply committed to mission-driven education, the foundation of WFIS’s work. They covered much ground at this meeting and initiated conversations on:
- Defining what it means to be a private school in Washington
- Evaluating the value of state approval and the benefits of accreditation
- Recognizing the challenge of the political climate in Washington
As the board grapples with vital issues, the WFIS staff will draft position statements that clearly express WFIS’ position on key issues and guide its advocacy for all private schools across Washington. This year promises to be productive and impactful.
Welcome the following new members to the WFIS Board:
Roger Gerstenberger, head of schools at Northwest Christian Schools, with 980 preK – 12th-grade students representing Christian Schools International (CSI) in Washington.
Anjanette Gonzales is the head of the Seattle Area German American School (SAGA), which serves 111 preK-5th grade students and represents the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS).
Craig Mattson, principal at Northwest Christian School in Puyallup, serves over 200 students from Kprep to 8th grade. He represents the Seventh-day Adventist Schools in western Washington.
Chad McNatt, superintendent at Seattle Christian School in Seatac, serves over 600 students in grades K-12 and represents the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Ray Wilson, the head of school at The Northwest School, serves over 400 students in grades 6-12th and represents the Northwest Association of Independent Schools.
