
ABOUT
We build a culture of high expectations and shared community responsibility for student success and educational excellence. With our partners, we make sustainable investments that support student achievement and show measurable results.
To build and strengthen Tacoma’s community-wide movement to help every child achieve success from cradle to college and career by aligning goals, data, resources, and partners.
Today, Graduate Tacoma is more than 265 Community Partners strong. We are parents and educators, early learning and higher education, business and labor, youth and community service, civic and philanthropy, local government and communities of faith – all aligning our work together with Tacoma schools to impact student success.

Joining forces. Aligning resources. Strengthening our community.
Graduate Tacoma is taking a community-wide approach to ensure that every child has access and opportunities for quality learning. Kids need the community at different times. Graduate Tacoma is about reaching them when and where they need us.
FOUNDATION FOR TACOMA STUDENTS STAFF

Tafona Ervin
Executive Director

Elvin Bucu
Director of Systems Alignment

Cecilia Garza
Director of Communications

Devin Rydel Kelly
Director of Data

April Renee Shine
Director of Advocacy & Policy

William Towey
Director of Development

Joseph Colón
Assistant Director of Collective Action

Jenai S. Fields
Early Learning and Reading Network Manager

Chanel R. Hall
STEAM Network Manager

Wendy Holcomb
Tacoma College Support Network Manager

Leigh Butler
Operations & Finance Manager

Ben Mitchell
Project Manager

Emmeline Call
Executive Assistant

Sarah Detweiler
Data Coordinator

Shaima Shamdeen
Communications Coordinator
FOUNDATION FOR TACOMA STUDENTS BOARD

Holly Bamford Hunt, Chair
The Bamford Foundation

Dion Rurik, Secretary
Russell Family Foundation

Jim Walton, Treasurer
Civic Leader and Former Tacoma City Manager

Jim Shoemake
Former Superintendent, Tacoma Public Schools

Lois Bernstein
Chief Community Executive, MultiCare Health System

Melannie Denise Cunningham
Director of Multicultural Outreach & Engagement, Pacific Lutheran University

Sara Irish
Community Leader, Tacoma Latino Round Table

Josh Knudson
Vice Chancellor for Advancement, UW Tacoma

Kathi Littmann
President & CEO, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

Lyle Quasim
Community Volunteer, Tacoma – Pierce County

Richard Remmert
Production Engineering Manager, The Boeing Company

Patty Rose
Secretary – Treasurer, Pierce County Central Labor Council

Carla Santorno
Superintendent Tacoma Public Schools

Willie Stewart
Former Assistant Superintendent, TPS

Shon Sylvia
Executive Director, Metro Parks Tacoma

Debbie Winskill, At-Large
Director, Tacoma School Board

Victoria Woodards
Mayor, City of Tacoma

Jeff Woodworth, At-Large
Woodworth Family Foundation

Stuart Young, Vice Chair
Managing Principal, BCRA

Cassandra Mitchell
VP Corp.Responsibility Officer, KeyBank

Carrie Prudente Holden
President & CEO, Boys & Girls Club of So.Puget Sound
