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Jack Arend
Jack Arend has hosted 6 episodes.
Jack joined the AWSP team in July 2019. He has served in education since 1989 as an elementary, middle and high school music teacher. He began his building leadership career in the fall of 2006 as the principal of Peter G. Schmidt Elementary in the Tumwater School District. After eleven years in the principalship, he served two years at the Central Office level overseeing multiple content areas and mentoring first year teachers.
Jack and his wife are both graduates of Washington State University. Jack received his Masters Degree from Western Washington University and his Administrative credentials from Seattle Pacific University. Jack and his wife Brenda enjoy living in the Olympia area and love spending time with their three children, Amanda, Emily, and Thomas.
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Scott Friedman
Scott Friedman has hosted 2 episodes.
Scott Friedman joined AWSP in July of 2018 after 25 years as a teacher, coach, school, and district administrator. He began his educational career at Ridgetop Junior High is Silverdale as a teacher and coach. From there he taught and coached at Riverside High School before embarking on his administrative career. Scott has served as a high school assistant principal and athletic director. From there he spent four years as an elementary principal. The last four years Scott has been the Director of Teaching and Learning for the Nine Mile Falls School District.
Scott graduated from Riverside High School in 1988. He graduated from Pacific Lutheran University where he also wrestled and was involved in student government. Scott later attended Gonzaga University where he earned his Masters in School Administration. Scott’s wife, Heidi, and their two kids (Jeff and Ty) live in Nine Mile Falls where they keep busy in their down time attending numerous kid activities.
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Scott Seaman
Scott Seaman has hosted 14 episodes.
Scott Seaman joined AWSP in July 2013. Scott was a teacher, coach and principal for 19 years. He spent 12 of those years as Principal at Tumwater High School. Scott's career started as a Spanish teacher and soccer coach at Capital High School in Olympia. He then moved to neighboring Tumwater School District and became the Assistant Principal at Tumwater High School for three years before taking over the principalship. Scott graduated from Olympia High School in 1989.
He then went on to play soccer and start his undergraduate work at Oregon State University. After transferring to Washington State University, he graduated with a degree in Spanish and a minor in English. He later attended Seattle University where he earned his Masters in School Administration. Scott later returned to WSU to earn his superintendent credentials and graduated with a doctorate from UW’s Leadership For Learning program in June 2018. Scott's wife, Shelley, and their two kids and yellow Labrador live in Olympia.
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David Morrill
David Morrill has hosted 7 episodes.
David started in education while working at the Legislature, serving as non-partisan committee staff. After that, he spent six years at OSPI. He's a product of North Thurston Public Schools and graduate of Western Washington University.
David grew up playing ice hockey (his mom is Canadian) and started playing tennis in high school. In his free time, David is either hanging out with his wife Taylor, playing tennis, or spending time with his niece and nephew. He also enjoys concerts, sporting events, and trips to Whistler.
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Roz Thompson
Roz Thompson has hosted 8 episodes.
Roz Thompson joined AWSP in June 2017 as the Director of Government Relations and Advocacy. She continues her work as a state instructional framework specialist for the Danielson Framework. Prior to joining AWSP, Roz worked in the Tumwater School District, most recently as a Curriculum Supervisor and the Professional Development Coordinator. She also worked as a teacher-librarian at both the high school and elementary levels while serving as the legislative liaison for the Washington Library Media Association from 2007-2012, and taught high school English, math, and social studies.
Roz and her husband, Jon, both have their undergraduate degrees in history from Whitman College and earned their graduate degrees from the University of Washington. Roz earned her principal certification from Seattle Pacific University. She and Jon live in Olympia and have two boys, Owen (a sophomore at Washington State University) and Drew (a junior at Olympia High School).
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Gina Yonts
Gina Yonts has hosted 2 episodes.
Gina joined AWSP the summer of 2018. She has served in education the past 27 years as a classroom teacher, Middle School Assistant and Lead Principal, as well as an Elementary Principal in the Walla Walla School District. She and her husband are both graduates of Central Washington University. Gina received her Masters from Northwest Nazarene University and her administration certification from Washington State University.
Gina is a passionate, energetic leader who has a proven commitment to improving teaching & learning. She specializes in RtI for Academics and Behavior, with a special emphasis on social/emotional learning and trauma informed best practices and experience and passion for Bilingual/ELL Education.
Gina and her husband Marc live in Walla Walla with their Rottweiller, Bear. They have two grown children, Ryan and Kennedy. -
Kamrica Ary-Turner
Kamrica Ary-Turner has hosted 2 episodes.
Kamrica Ary-Turner joined AWSP in July 2022. She served as an educator in Washington for 14 years, mainly in secondary schools, as a counselor and the last 10 years as a school administrator in ESD 121. She advocates for the whole child with a passion for justice, diversity, equity, and community partnerships.
Retired Hosts
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Chris Espeland
Chris Espeland has hosted 3 episodes.
Chris joined AWSP in December of 2019 as the Inclusion Project Manager. She has served in education the past 25 years as a classroom teacher, Elementary Principal in Monroe School District, and the Director of Teaching and Learning in the Lakewood School District. Along with her work at AWSP, Chris is also a doctoral student at the University of Washington and is currently doing a residency within Bellingham Public Schools with Superintendent Dr. Baker.
Chris is an equity driven leader who is focused on dismantling systemic historic oppression and reimagining education where each student is seen and every student learns. Chris and her husband Lars live in Arlington with their two dogs, Joe and Coco, and a crazy cat named Sage. She also has two daughters, Erin who is studying Materials Engineering at Washington State University, and Ella who is a history major at Carroll College in Montana.
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Kurt Hatch
Kurt Hatch has hosted 3 episodes.
Kurt joined AWSP after 22 years in the field, including 13 as a school leader. Most recently the Principal at Mt. View Elementary in the North Thurston School District, Kurt has also served as a Principal in University Place, Assistant Principal in Kent, Instructional Coach in Puyallup, teacher-leader in Shanghai and has taught a variety of grade levels. A graduate of Curtis High School and Washington State University, Kurt completed City University’s Master’s in Teaching certification program and holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Western Washington University’s Woodring College of Education.
Kurt’s wife, Nicole, is a Literacy Coach in the Olympia School District and their two daughters attend Washington Middle School and Centennial Elementary. Kurt enjoys exploring the Northwest with family and friends, traveling, sports and jazz music.
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Gary Kipp
Gary Kipp has hosted 1 episode.
Gary Kipp joined AWSP as executive director in September 2003 after nearly 30 years as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. He retired as AWSP's Executive Director in the summer of 2018. The majority of his time in the principalship was focused at the high school level, where he spent 20 years leading Mark Morris High School (Longview SD). Before that, he served as assistant principal at Cascade and Monticello middle schools, also in Longview. Before transitioning to AWSP, he also served as an assistant superintendent for Evergreen Public Schools in Vancouver.
Gary holds a master’s in educational administration from the University of Washington, although his true loyalties lie with his undergraduate alma mater Washington State University. Gary graduated from Ballard High School (Seattle PS). He and his wife, Sue, live in Olympia. They have two adult children and five grandchildren.
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