Mary Fertakis, M.Ed. brings over 25 years of education sector experience in a broad range of P-12 issues, including: educational equity; policy development and implementation; strategic planning; governance board development; student and community engagement; and an understanding of the historical context within which all these issues exist. Using her skills as a presenter, facilitator and key speaker, she has provided training and support to hundreds of school board members and administrators, as well as to student, family and community groups in 16 states. She holds a Master’s in Education Policy, Teaching Certification in ELL, Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and International Studies, and Certifications in P-3 Systems (UW) and Harvard’s P-3 and Family Engagement Institutes.

Mary carries deep knowledge about policy, governance, funding, and school systems from her 22 years as a school board member, serving in a district with an exceptionally wide range of needs and interests. She was honored to serve as President of the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA), and as a member of WSSDA’s Board of Directors for many years, providing her with countless opportunities to learn about the challenges faced by a wide variety of districts and communities. She currently serves on the Washington State Board of Education (SBE) as the Vice Chair, and is deeply engaged in the SBE’s legislative advocacy work to ensure all students can learn and thrive, and serves as the Board’s representative on the Washington State Social Emotional Learning Advisory Council.

Her passion for working in education can be traced to: Helping her teacher father grade middle school papers and setting up his classroom; Having a life-long interest in, and appreciation for, world cultures – which led to her serving two years in the US Peace Corps in Senegal; Being mom to two, amazing young men, and many non-biological children who are first generation scholars in the US; Responding to needs in her community by helping create two non-profits to meet unmet needs and support families experiencing homelessness; and Wanting people of all ages to experience the joy of learning.