staff

SARA MORRIS
President & CEO
sara@alliance4ed.org
(206) 205-0324

Prior to joining the Alliance for Education, Sara was Director of Marketing & Public Relations at OVP Venture Partners in Kirkland, WA. At OVP Venture Partners, she was responsible for brand development, communications strategy, strategic partnerships and media relations.

Sara brings more than fifteen years experience in marketing and communications across the public and private sectors. She began her career as a communications aide in the Clinton Administration. After completing her MBA at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Sara moved to Seattle and joined Amazon.com as Group Marketing Manager. From 2005-2006 she served as Executive Staff Director to Superintendent Manhas' Committee for Excellence, a blue-ribbon commission that made sweeping reform recommendations aimed at boosting academic achievement and achieving fiscal sustainability in Seattle Public Schools.

Sara currently serves as Board President of the Technology Access Foundation.  In 2003, she was named one of Seattle’s 40 Under 40 ”by the Puget Sound Business Journal. She enjoys hiking, cross country skiing, baking, travel and doing all those things with her family. Her children attend public elementary school in Ballard.

MARLEEN ARENIVAR
Events Manager
marleen@alliance4ed.org
(206) 205-0334

Prior to joining the Alliance for Education, Marleen worked in marketing within the A/E/C (architectural, engineering, construction) industry. Marleen was responsible for proposal submissions, newsletters, and social media presence. She assisted with graphic layout and the designing of brochures, postcards, mailers, and case studies.

Marleen brings more than 8 years of experience in marketing, writing, and graphic design. She began her career as a project assistant at URS, a nationwide construction firm. After completing her BA at the George Washington University, Marleen moved to Los Angeles and then to Seattle in 2006. Marleen enjoys biking, cooking, and traveling with her son, who attends public elementary school in Seattle.

SARA CIRCELLI
Executive Assistant
saracircelli@alliance4ed.org
(206) 205-0324

Sara joined the Alliance for Education in April of 2012. Prior to joining the Alliance, she worked for several years in Los Angeles in awards administration at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and on various film and television projects, including the documentary An Inconvenient Truth. After relocating to Seattle, Sara merged her passion for film and interest in education with her role as the Programming Coordinator for FILMTalks, the Seattle Jewish Film Festival’s media literacy and tolerance training course for area high school students.

Sara received her M.A. in Critical Studies from the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California and her B.A. in Screen Studies and English from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. In her free time, Sara enjoys reading, watching musicals, trying new restaurants, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.

RACHEL HUG
Communications Coordinator
rachel@alliance4ed.org
(206) 205-0322

Rachel joined the Alliance in August 2009.  Rachel manages all communications for the Alliance, focusing especially on relaying "in-the-trenches" stories of students, parents, teachers, and district staff. Rachel also administers a number of award programs. Before joining the Alliance, Rachel worked at Mountain View Financial Planning in Puyallup and as a respite care provider with the Department of Developmental Disabilities in Tacoma. She also taught piano for eight years to students ages 5 to 60. 

Rachel graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Global Studies and a minor in Hispanic Studies from the University of Washington Tacoma. She was widely involved in leadership at UWT and was awarded for her volunteer efforts, focusing on social justice and cultural awareness. She has traveled and volunteered in education capacities in a number of countries.

CYNTHIA MCKINNEY
Finance Assistant

cynthia@alliance4ed.org
(206) 205-0337

Cynthia joined the Alliance in January of 2008. Prior to joining the Alliance, she worked in various accounting/bookkeeping positions for companies including PATH, Airborne Express and Windermere.

Cynthia received her B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Washington. She has a daughter who currently attends middle school in Renton. In her free time, Cynthia enjoys the outdoors, decorating, taking day trips and spending time with her daughter.

JENNIFER PAN
Development Assistant
jennifer@alliance4ed.org
(206) 205-0335

Jennifer supports and coordinates day-to-day gift processing, including acknowledgment and stewardship of gifts.   She also assists with special events and other fund-raising and fund development activities of the Alliance.  Her passion is in child welfare and education.

Jennifer was born in Taiwan and moved to the United States at age 11.  She grew up on Whidbey Island, WA, and attended South Whidbey High school.  Jennifer earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from Seattle University.  She enjoys golfing, paddle boarding, and yoga during her spare time, and has recently received her yoga teaching certificate.  She is also a volunteer with many local organizations such as Sunflower Children, Seattle Children’s Stanley Stamm Camp, Elder Friends, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 

ALMA ROMERO
Sr. Administrative Assistant
alma@alliance4ed.org
(206) 205-0320

Alma serves as the Alliance for Education's office manager and also has responsibilities related to accounting and donor services.  She has been with the Alliance since 1999.  Prior to her work at the Alliance, Alma spent many years in the restaurant business, working both in management roles and as a server.  Her three children attended Ballard High School.

Alma completed her A.A. degree at San Bernardino Community College.  Her early education was completed at public schools in the San Bernardino School District in California.

CHUCK SCHAFER
Chief Financial Officer
chuck@alliance4ed.org
(206) 205-0325

Chuck oversees all accounting practices at the Alliance for Education.  Prior to moving to Seattle, he spent 18 years as the accounting manager for Georgia-Pacific in Bellingham.  When their kids left home, he and his wife moved to Seattle to start their own adventure.  Prior to his current position, Chuck served in a variety of senior financial management positions, including as the director of finance at the Alliance in from 1998 through 1999.  He was most recently the CFO at PSF Industries, returning to the Alliance in 2007, because he believes the Alliance can help students achieve the education they need.

Chuck is a CPA.  He graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in finance.  Chuck’s early education was completed at public schools in Yakima, Washington.

MARK A. TAYLOR
Grants Manager
mark@alliance4ed.org
(206) 205-0342

As a member of the Educational Investments team, Mark provides support for Seattle Public Schools’ strategic plan.  He identifies potential funding sources, writes grant proposals, co-develops outcome measures with internal and external teams, and manages reporting. 

Mark has worked for 25 years in fundraising, grants management, performance tracking, and systems development.  Prior to joining the Alliance, Mark served in a variety of positions, including executive director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Whatcom County, associate director of agency development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and executive director of Northwest Youth Services of Bellingham, Washington.  Over the course of his career, Mark has developed over 300 successful grant proposals for a wide range of projects, including capacity building, mentoring, substance abuse prevention, legal services, and projects serving homeless youth and the elderly.

Mark earned his law degree from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois.  Prior to that, he completed his B.A. in English at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois.

KAREN TOLLENAAR DEMOREST
Vice President, Programs
karen@alliance4ed.org
(206) 205-0333

Karen came to the Alliance in 2007 and oversees the Alliance for Education’s investments into Seattle Public Schools. She also works on specific initiatives within the Alliance, leading the Seattle College Access Network (SCAN) and collaborating closely with district staff on the Intensive School Partnership strategy, an effort aimed at improving student outcomes by strengthening the supports of schools, community organizations and external partners.

Karen has a varied work history most recently in development at the University of Washington, and previously in the hospitality industry, and as an installer of computer systems.  Karen earned her master’s degree in public administration from the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington after completing an undergraduate degree in Communications at the UW. 

Karen attended Seattle Public Schools for her entire upbringing and graduated from West Seattle High School.  She is married and has two daughters who are third generation Seattle Public Schools attendees; one graduated from Garfield High School and the other currently attends Eckstein Middle School.

AMY WARD
Accounting Manager
amy@alliance4ed.org
(206) 205-0327

Amy works closely with the CFO to manage financial transactions and reporting at the Alliance for Education.  Amy has worked on staff and as an independent consultant for a variety of nonprofit and government agencies in Washington D.C. and Seattle, including the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, The Textile Museum, the University of Washington, the Seattle Monorail Project, Chinese Information and Service Center  and  Seattle Urban Nature.