Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is dedicated to transforming educational opportunities for students in Washington State as part of a larger solution for educational equity and access for all students.

Over the 2019-20 school year, Green Dot Washington transitioned its oversight and on-the-ground operations to support RVLA as a community-centered, standalone school. As such, it is adding greater representation, voice, and expertise from the Seattle community to its Board ensure more local school governance.

As of June 2020, Rainier Valley Leadership Academy is an independent, standalone school to reflect this change.

To access our board meeting agendas and minutes from November 1, 2019 on, please visit our board meeting platform.
Translated documents available upon request. Email [email protected].

If you would like to communicate with the Board of Directors you can email them individually to their emails listed below.
If you have questions about the Board Meetings please email [email protected]

Vivian Hsu

[email protected]
Deputy Director, Strategy, Planning and Management

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Vivian Hsu's Bio

Vivian Hsu is a Senior Strategy Officer on the Vaccine Development & Surveillance team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She supports a portfolio of early-stage vaccine technology and manufacturing capability-building grants, as well as, strategy work for the team.

Before joining the foundation, Vivian was the Senior Director of Payer Partnership Operations at Evolent Health, a population health services company focused on building accountable care organizations in the United States. She was also previously a Business Analyst in McKinsey and Company’s Hong Kong office.

Vivian graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Yale University and received her MBA in Healthcare Management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

William Wang - Auxiliary

[email protected]
Principal

Angel Island Capital

William Wang's Bio

William Wang is currently a Principal at Angel Island Capital, a San Francisco-based investment manager with over $3B in assets under management. He leads the industrials team to find and make investments in corporate loans and bonds. Prior to joining Angel Island Capital, William was a credit analyst at Oaktree Capital Management. Earlier in his career, he worked at The D.E. Shaw Group, and at Rothschild Inc. in the Corporate Restructuring Investment Banking division. William has been involved with Green Dot Public Schools since 2013, primarily as an Ambassador. Additionally he has been involved in various leadership roles within education-related organizations such Youth Business Alliance, University of Virginia’s Alumni Association, National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Big Brothers Big Sister and American Youth Soccer Organization. William received his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Economics from the University of Virginia.

Reco O. Bembry - Co-Chair

[email protected]
President and CEO
BCS CORP

Reco O. Bembry's Bio

Mr. Bembry is a graduate of the Community Fellows Program from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and holds a BFA in music performance and composition from Cornish Institute of Allied Arts.

These studies led him to complete course work with at-risk youth in performing arts at the nationally renowned Madrona Youth Theater and The Computer Museum in Boston. With a focused interest in reducing youth violence Reco received his certification as an Advanced Leadership Trainer in Violence Prevention from the Harvard School of Public Health/EDC, and National Substance Abuse Prevention Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Mr. Bembry continues to work in the field of youth and community development, formerly as the Director of Teen Programs for the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation and was responsible for the development of many innovative programs including Seattle's Late Night Recreation Program duplicated around the country.

Mr. Bembry serves on many regional committees as both member and advisor such as the City of Seattle's Racial Profiling Taskforce, The Office of Juvenile Justice and Prevention. He served as spokesperson for the Late Night Programs during the Democratic National Convention and as a guest on a CBS News feature with David Brinkley's "Three Programs, Three Cities."
Mr. Bembry is the recipient of many awards including the Diamond Award for "Outstanding Community Service," The Commission Award, and the Children's Defense Fund award, for the development of the Teen Anti-Violence Council, The WRPA Teen Services Professional of the Year Award and the Academy of Parks and Recreation Sciences 1999-2000 Article of the Year Award recipient.

Reco Bembry currently serves as a consultant in the private sector with clients such as the Experience Music Museum in Seattle to develop youth education outreach programs and as community relation’s specialist to many National organizations. Recent endeavors include the development of the Teen Life Center and The National Youth Congress which involves youth in program implementation, governance and community development work. Reco Bembry is the founding Executive Director of the Seattle/King County’s City Year program, a national service organization and has recently served as Senior Consultant to the following clients, National Recreation and Parks Association. Among his clients include the University of Baltimore, CLEAR Corps USA, The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, The Seattle Management Association, The Scholars Practitioners Program “a Kellogg Foundation Initiative” The CASA Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. Mr. Bembry recently served as Deputy Director for the City of Oakland Parks and Recreation Department. Founder of StoneBCS Inc. which includes Soap Salts and Sense, RECoach , StoneBCSProductions, Bembry Consulting Services, NevsPlace Transitional Housing Program. Author of many intellectual properties and program architect for multiple youth service agencies. for more information: www.Bembryconsulting.com . [email protected]. 206-850-3626.

Elijah Forde

[email protected]
Attorney
Atlas Law

Elijah Forde's Bio

Elijah Forde is the managing partner at Atlas Law, PS. where he represents injured workers in worker’s compensation and social security matters. He also performs services pro bono for immigration clients. Prior to owning his own firm, Elijah worked for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office and Lane Powell, primarily doing workers’ compensation litigation.

Elijah is a former Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Governor for the 9th district, past co-chair for WSBA’s Diversity Committee, and past member of NW Lawyer’s editorial board. He also served as the Loren Miller Bar Association president and vice president prior to serving on the WSBA Board of Governors. Elijah has been admitted to practice law in Washington since 2006.
In his spare time, Elijah enjoys playing music including the drums and the banjo. Elijah is also a certified SCUBA diver, motorcycle enthusiast, and aspiring writer.

Elijah is also a proud parent of an RVLA scholar. This makes RLVA one of the only Washington State Charter schools with a family on the Board of Directors.

Tyson Marsh - Co-Chair

[email protected]
Associate Professor
UW Bothell

Tyson Marsh's Bio

Dr. Tyson E.J. Marsh is Associate Professor and Director for the Leadership Development for Educators Program (LEDE) in the School of Educational Studies at the University of Washington, Bothell. His work as an international school leader coupled with his experience working in rural, suburban, and urban schools in the United States inform his research focused on the political, historical, social, cultural and economic function of education and educational leaders in relation to Black and Indigenous communities. Dr. Marsh’s current work is focused on utilizing critical theories of race, class, and gender to assist educators in understanding the coloniality of schooling, while developing their agency and commitment to community-centered approaches to teaching, learning, and leadership.

Mike Dyal

[email protected]
CEO
SOAUSA

Mike Dyal's Bio

Mike Dyal enjoys watching a movie with his spouse & college sweetheart, Keli, taking family trips to hike the mountains or explore the wild Pacific Northwest coastline. One of his favorite places to visit that should be on everyone’s bucket list is the most north-westerly place in the Continental United States: Neah Bay, WA. When he has a moment to himself, he is usually reading a book, or working in his garden. His love for life comes from his five children.

He attended Utah Valley University where he graduated with dual degrees in Spanish & Technology Management with an emphasis on Leadership; earning the National Certificate from the Center for the Advancement of Leadership. He earned an MBA Spring, 2020. Mike is an Eagle Scout who continues to mentor youth. Mike has been featured in FORBES and is a National ambassador for The Financial Awareness Foundation-a non-profit dedicated to improving financial awareness. Mike has speaking engagements at local colleges and business forums.

After college Mike and his bride moved to California and later Washington where he worked as a manager on some of the largest construction projects in the Western United States: Bay Bridge, CA; Long Beach Bridge, CA; and the Seattle, WA “Big Bertha” Tunnel-the largest diameter tunnel on the globe. He started his own financial services practice with a vision to solve the retirement shortfall by providing the solutions to income tax, decreased income, health costs, & longevity.

Mike Dyal is the principal and founder of multiple companies that help his vision to solve the retirement shortfall.

Board Meetings

All Board meetings are open to the public. Download agendas and meeting minutes here.

All RVLA Board meetings are accessible virtually except for retreats.
Please find more info about attending a meeting and meeting agendas and links here.

Board Meetings are currently being held virtually. Please use the lnk on the agenda to attend virtually:

There is an in person option for the monthly Board Meetings @ RVLA: 6020 Rainier Ave S, Seattle WA 98118
All Board Retreats are in person @ RVLA: 6020 Rainier Ave S, Seattle WA 98118

If you need translation services at a Board Meeting please email us two or more days in advance at leah.reisberg@myrvla.org

2025 Upcoming Meetings/Retreats:

January 28th 4:30am-5:30pm PST
February 25th 4:30-5:30pm PST
March 29th 9am4pm PST (Retreat)
April 29th 4:30-5:30pm PST
May 27th 4:30-5;30pm PST
June 24th 4:30-5:30pm PST

No July Meeting
August 26th 4:30-5:30pm PST
September 30th 4:30-5:30pm PST
October 25th 9am-1pm PST (Retreat)
November 18th 4:30-5:30pm PST
No December Meeting

*Times subject to be extended to accommodate annual board retreat. Updated times, dates and location will be posted according to WA OPMA.

To access our board meeting agendas and minutes from November 1, 2019 on, please visit our board meeting platform.

Board Meeting Agendas and Minutes: 2015-2016

August 11, 2015: Teleconference Call (Tuesday) - 12:00pm

September 15, 2015 (Tuesday) - 10:45am -12:00pm - TAC

October 22, 2015 (Thursday) - 4:00-6:00pm - SEA

December 16, 2015 (Wednesday) - 9:00-11:00am - TAC

February 12, 2016: Teleconference Call (Friday) - 4:30-5:00pm

May 25, 2016 (Wednesday) - 9:00-11:00am - TAC

Board Meeting Agendas and Minutes: 2016-2017

Board Meeting Agendas and Minutes: 2017-2018

August 29, 2017 (Tuesday) 3:30-4:00 PM

September 14, 2017 (Thursday)– 9:00-1:00 PM (TAC)

October 26, 2017 (Thursday)– 4:00-6:00 PM (KEN)

December 14, 2017 (Thursday)– 4:00-6:00 PM (SEA)

February 26, 2018 (Monday)– 2:30-3:00 PM (SEA)

March 29, 2018 (Thursday)– 9:00-11:00 AM (TAC)

May 23, 2018 (Wednesday)– 4:00-6:00 PM (KEN)

June 28, 2018 (Thursday)– 4:00-6:00 PM (RVLA, 3900 S Holly Park Drive, Seattle, WA 98118)

Board Meeting Agendas and Minutes: 2018-2019

August 23, 2018 (Thursday)– 10:00 AM-12:00 PM (STA)

October 25, 2018 (Thursday)– 4:00-6:00 PM; (SEA)

November 28, 2018 (Wednesday)–4:00-4:30 PM (teleconference)

December 13, 2018 (Thursday)– 4:00-6:00 PM (KEN)

January 25, 2019 (Friday)– 12:00-4:00 PM (McKinstry Innovation Center - 210 S Hudson St, 3rd Floor, Seattle, WA 98134)

February 21, 2019 (Thursday)– 4:00-4:30 PM (teleconference)

March 28, 2019 (Thursday) – 2:00-4:00 PM (TAC)

April 25, 2019 (Thursday) –4:00-4:30 PM (teleconference)

May 30, 2019 (Thursday)– 4:00-6:00 PM (teleconference)

June 6, 2019 (Thursday)– 5:00 - 7:00 PM (STA)

June 27, 2019 (Thursday)– 4:00-6:00 PM (SEA)

July 30, 2019 (Thursday)– 4:00-6:00 PM (SEA)

NOTICE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ONGOING LITIGATION

The Washington State Charter Schools Act requires charter schools to inform you of any ongoing litigation challenging the constitutionality of charters schools, or litigation that could require charter schools to cease operations. You are, therefore, placed on notice that:

There currently no ongoing litigation challenging the constitutionality of charter schools or that might require charter schools to cease operating;

The case captioned LWV v. State, King County Superior Court Cause No. 13-2-24977-4, is still pending. This is the case that resulted in the Supreme Court’s ruling that provisions of the previous Charter Schools Act violated some constitutional provisions. Judgment has not yet been entered in that case;

List other ongoing litigation _______________.

According to Chapter 28A.505.040 RCW, Rainier Valley Leadership Academy is providing notice that the budget and summary of the four-year budget plan
have been completed and copies are available for public review. Requests can be made by emailing [email protected].