About the Commission

Dr. Donald Felder

Retired from Casey Family Programs, Dr. Felder’s 30 years as a skilled and compassionate teacher, consultant and principal at Seattle Public Schools helped to positively transform the lives of thousands of students. During his years running Interagency Academy, Dr. Felder effectively protected the education rights of struggling students that included those who were pushed out from traditional schools and those who were adolescent offenders, homeless or in foster care. His leadership resulted in a significantly expanded and improved alternative education program that continues to successfully serve and educate 6th -12th grade students. He is currently an educational consultant, lecturer, and active advocate for children and for race and social justice in education.

Harium Martin-Morris, Commissioner At Large

Commissioner Harium Martin-Morris was designated to serve on the Commission as a member of the State Board of Education. Mr. Martin-Morris possesses a unique blend of classroom teaching experience, education policy development, school district governance and management expertise. In 2015, he retired from The Boeing Company after 17 years in software development. He was elected twice to Seattle School Board serving from 2007 to 2015. During his tenure on the Seattle School Board, he served on the Council of Great City Schools board of directors and the Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) steering committee as its vice-chair. While a member of the Seattle School Board, he led the effort to end the out of school suspensions of elementary students with the aid of undergraduate students from the University of Washington. That work led to a resolution and actions that passed unanimously. And in the two years since its passage hundred of students remained in school getting an education instead of falling further behind their fellow students. His ability to listen, build coalitions and create conscience has made him a successful advocate for public education.

After his retirement from The Boeing Company, Harium started a consulting group with a focus on school district communication, equity and school improvement. Currently, Harium serves on two non-profit boards, the Equity in Education Coalition and the Boeing Employees Flying Association.

Harium and his wife, Linda, have two children. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from State University of New York at Cortland, and Master of Business Administration from Babson College as well as a Washington State Residency Teaching Certificate. Harium currently serves on the State Board of Education.

Vickey Melcher

A lifelong resident of Eastern Washington, Odessa High School alumnus Vickey Melcher has devoted her life to improving the state of education in Washington. With a BA in Special Education and an MA in Counseling Psychology, Vickey has worked in many different capacities to ensure the educational needs of ALL students in Washington State are met.

Vickey was a teacher for 16 years, including two as head of Special Education for Moses Lake High School. She was elected to the Moses Lake School board in 2017, serving as Director, Legislative Representative and President in her four years of service. While on the board, Vickey launched a monthly webinar for Eastern Washington school board members, legislators, superintendents and members of the State Board of Education (SBE), with the goal of creating a unified message grounded in understanding that, while all districts may have the same issues, how each district deals with them is unique to the district and the community they serve.

Vickey was part of the design team for Moses Lake’s Vanguard Academy and is a member of the General Advisory Board for CTE education in Moses Lake. She also serves on the foundation board of Big Bend Community College and as a Washington State Early Learning Fellow.

Vickey’s philosophy is that the best education for our children depends on the good decisions we make for them. Vickey and her husband Wes are blessed to have their children (Jayson and daughter-in-law Stephanie; Jesyka and son-in-law Brad) and five grandchildren all residing near them in Moses Lake.

Carla Rogenmuser

Before putting down roots in the Pacific Northwest, Carla grew up in rural Pennsylvania Dutch Country. She was a 2019 WA Charters Aspiring Leaders Fellow and completed the University of Michigan MicroMasters Program of Leading Educational Innovation and Improvement in 2021. Carla is currently serving as Board Chair and President of the charter parent-led nonprofit Washington State Family Advocacy Board and works in state level education policy. Her focus is on equitable practices sector wide while holding a high standard of accountability in service to those traditionally underserved by the education system.

Matt Schultz

Matt Schultz currently serves as the Chief Legal and Civil Rights Officer for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. In that role, he oversees the provision of legal services to the Superintendent and the various departments at OSPI. He directly oversees the Office of Equity and Civil Rights, the Office of Professional Practice, and the Public Records Office.

Prior to joining OSPI, Matt lived in Nashville, Tennessee and served as the Deputy General Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Human Resources and also served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Tennessee in the Health Care Division.

For the last 15 years, Matt has served as an officer in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He spent 8 years on active duty serving primarily out of Bremerton, Washington. His time on active duty included a tour on USS John C. Stennis, where he deployed to the Middle East as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, and also served as a bridge officer. Since leaving active duty in 2015, Matt continues to serve as a reserve officer and is currently a Commander and is assigned to Naval District Washington D.C.

Matt graduated from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and received his Juris Doctor from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He lives in Seattle with his partner and two children.

Christine Varela, Chair

Christine Varela is a strategic communication consultant and partner with the integrated marketing firm DH. Christine counsels CEOs and senior leaders across the northwest in industries such as healthcare, education, transit, B2B, and more. Christine works with organizations to build their reputations, influence public opinion and drive consumer behavior. She has deep expertise in public affairs, public relations, issues management, crisis communication and advocacy.

Christine serves as the Chair of the Greater Spokane Incorporated’s Public Policy Council. She also serves on the Board of Directors for United Way of Spokane County, Greater Spokane Incorporated, and is the past chair of the North Pacific District chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Christine was one of the founding Board members for PRIDE Prep, one of the first public charter schools in Washington State.

Christine graduated Magna Cum Laude from Gonzaga University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations and a minor in Political Science. She is also accredited in public relations (APR) through the Public Relations Society of America.

Marcus Harden

Marcus Harden is an educator, mentor, advocate, and love dealer who has served in K–12 education as a teacher, counselor, dean, assistant principal, principal, chief academic officer, state and federal policy advocate, professional developer, keynote speaker, senior director of academics, and school founder for 23 years.

Marcus is a proud product of South Seattle and a University of Washington Husky (Danforth School of Education and UW Distinguished Alumni winner) and has served in Washington, DC, Atlanta, GA, and a few international stops.

He is the co-founder of the Academy for Creating Excellence, an organization committed to cultivating the innate brilliance in young men of color through authentic and intentional love and dignity. He is also one of the founding staff members of the WA State Charter School Association and a founding team member of Overtime Elite, a one-of-a-kind professional basketball league in which Marcus co-founded and led the educational program and youth development.

Marcus is a proud father of six sons and believes in the innate greatness in all students, families, and those committed to educating and loving young people and their families.

Kara Lowe

Kara comes to the Commission with a background in business management and over seven years of legislative affairs experience for state and federal trade associations. After staying home with her children, Kara returned to work as a preschool teacher. She spent five years working in early childhood education. Kara has worked in public schools as a traveling art teacher for grades K-5 and completed a special education public school internship in Occupational Therapy. After spending time living on the East Coast and in the South; she returned to the Pacific Northwest to raise her family.

Kara is proud to be a product of Washington State public schools and is a daughter of a 35-year public school educator. She holds a Dual Emphasis Bachelor of Arts from The Evergreen State College in Community Health Sciences & Non-Profit Business Management, with a minor in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy.

Kara’s interests are in the improvement of systems framework in society, and public policy. She is excited to partner with the Commission in working towards maintaining and achieving educational equity in Washington State.

Jess Saven Barton

Jess began her career teaching middle and high school science for ten years before realizing she had a passion for all things data. She made an abrupt pivot, went back to school, and took every statistics course offered while also completing an administrator’s license. She then led data strategy for seven years at STRIVE Prep, a charter management organization in Denver, focusing on ensuring data was accessible to stakeholders at all levels to inform instruction for all students.

Jess attended grades K-10 in Seattle, earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University, National Board Certification for Teaching, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon. She has a deep commitment to closing opportunity gaps for students in her home state and is excited for the opportunity to engage in that work with both the Commission and the oversight team.

Italiana Hughes

Italiana has a passion for education, as a former elementary and preschool teacher. She has also been involved in college access work, supporting several teams of AmeriCorps members, in addition to being a community impact manager for a collective impact organization.

Italiana grew up in South King County and is the first in her family to earn a Bachelor’s degree. Proud to be a Husky, she earned her BA in Communication & Culture and minored in Education, Learning, and Society at the University of Washington. Italiana enjoys spending her time with her sweet baby girl and powerlifting at the gym.

Halma Abubakar

Halma is excited to join the Commission, her background is in Operations. She helped found two charter schools in South King County. Halma is passionate about serving students in the way they are meant to be served. She is a mother of one and enjoys drinking tea with family and friends during her free time.

Scott Canfield

Scott Canfield comes to the Commission with an extensive career in public education. Most recently, as co-founder and CEO, he oversaw the successful authorization and launch of Why Not You Academy, in Des Moines, WA. Prior to that, he served as a school administrator and educator in Seattle Public Schools, Federal Way Public Schools and the Shoreline School District. He has Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Washington, a Master in Teaching from Seattle University, and certificates in School Administration and Education Finance. Scott brings a passion for working to dismantle systemic barriers for students and their families, in the public education system.

Charmaine McCladdie

Charmaine is a highly dedicated and educated professional passionate about supporting underserved communities. A firm believer in continuous learning and self-development, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences with a concentration in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at West Oahu and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Counseling at Saint Martin’s University.

Having relocated from Hawaii to Washington, Charmaine brings her previous experience in the helping professions to the Washington State Charter School Commission, where she serves as the Executive Assistant. She is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion and bridging the gaps in the community. She is eager to support the important work being accomplished by the commission and helping to make a difference in the lives of those she serves.