Charter school panel’s 9 members announced

OLYMPIA (AP) — State leaders have announced their appointments to the new Charter School Commission.

Washington became the 42nd state to OK the independent public schools in November. Voters authorized the opening of up to 40 charter schools over five years. The governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House were each allowed three appointments to the commission, which were announced Wednesday.

Gov. Jay Inslee’s appointments are Doreen Cato from Ocean Shores, Chris Martin from Spokane and Steve Sundquist from Seattle.

Cato is the executive director of the United Way of Grays Harbor. Martin is the executive director of Prodigy Northwest, a group that develops leadership and academic programs for gifted youth. Sundquist served on the Seattle School Board.

Lt. Gov. Brad Owen’s appointments are Kevin Jacka of Springdale, Cindi Williams of Bellevue and Larry Wright of Sammamish.

Jacka has been the superintendent of the Mary Walker School District in northeast Washington since 2005. Williams has worked on education issues for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Wright is managing director of the Bellevue Arts Museum.

House Speaker Frank Chopp’s appointments are Trish Millines Dziko of Vashon, Margrit McGuire of Seattle and Dave Quall of Mount Vernon.

Dziko is the founder of a nonprofit that gets minority students involved in science and technology. McGuire is the director of teacher education at Seattle University. Quall is a former Democratic state representative.