My name is Alex Wakeman Rouse. She, her pronouns. I'm a parent of two kids: one who's in second grade at Dunlap Elementary in Seattle Public Schools in Rainier Beach, and I have a five-year-old who will be an incoming kindergartner next year. I grew up here in Seattle. I'm a graduate of Seattle Public Schools, and my mom also worked as a school nurse for the school district.

I helped found All Together for Seattle Schools. I'm the current board co-chair of the group. And we're a grassroots, parent and caregiver-led advocacy organization but that's really been advocating for the district to communicate transparently with the public and involve parents and school communities.

David Knight is an Associate Professor at the University of Washington specializing in education finance and policy. His research examines inequities in school funding, the economic impacts of education policies, and strategies for improving resource allocation in public education systems. David’s work has been instrumental in shaping discussions on education funding reform, particularly in Washington State, where he has provided critical insights into the limitations of existing funding models and advocated for equitable solutions.

Jie Lei is a parent of two children in Seattle Public Schools, one in the Highly Capable Cohort (HCC) at Cascadia Elementary and one at a neighborhood Title I school. A first-generation immigrant, Jie brings a unique perspective as a former SPS student who progressed through various programs, including ESL, Special Education, Spectrum, and HCC. Jie is an advocate for equitable access to advanced learning programs and has firsthand experience navigating the challenges and opportunities within Seattle Public Schools.

Kendall Fujioka is a PhD student in Educational Policy, Organizations, and Leadership at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on education funding, equity, and the impacts of state-level policy decisions on resource distribution in public schools. Kendall collaborates with policymakers and advocates to address systemic inequities in education, contributing data-driven insights to reform efforts across Washington State.

Megan Larkin is a parent of two Seattle Public Schools students with a master’s in Education Policy and Leadership Studies. She is the Regional Advocacy Co-Chair for the Washington State PTA and has extensive experience in education advocacy.

Oliver Miska (they/he) is a Seattle Public Schools educator, community organizer with Washington Ethnic Studies, and founder of Solidarity Policy and Public Affairs. A lifelong Seattleite, Oliver translates academic research into actionable grassroots campaigns, focusing on equitable school funding and legislative reform. They are a passionate advocate for systemic change, combining expertise in education policy with practical organizing strategies.