Stephan Blanford

Dr. Stephan Blanford is the principal and co-owner of Lighthouse Consulting, providing equity-based research, evaluation and consultation services to school districts and community-based nonprofit organizations. He recently completed a four-year term on the Seattle School Board, providing leadership for a 54,000-student, $1.5 billion school district.

Stephan was appointed to newly elected Mayor Jenny Durkan’s transition committee, and he is a member of the Board of Directors of United Way of King County and the Board of Directors for Integrated Schools, in addition to a number of community boards.

Stephan holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and a Masters in Public Administration (Nonprofit Leadership), both at the University of Washington. His research interests center on the ways in which leaders advance equity issues in schools and communities. He and his wife, Janet, are doting parents to a high school sophomore.

Matt Halvorson

Matt Halvorson is a writer, musician, abolitionist and father, and he founded the Rise Up for Students blog in 2016.

A veteran of several seasons in professional baseball front offices and four years as a program coordinator with the “I Have a Dream” Foundation, Matt currently spends a lot of time at home with his kids. Like, a lot a lot.

Matt also wrote and recorded nearly 50 original songs in 2019, and released two original albums in 2020 as Cousin Wolf. His current project, “Nine Innings,” is a series of nine songs about big league ballplayers set for release in 2022.

Matt lives in Seattle with his partner, Lindsay, and their four kids. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Augustana University. He enjoys drinking coffee, sitting around campfires, fielding groundballs, and plotting to bring down The System.

Marcus Harden

Marcus Harden is a seasoned educator, with experience as a teacher, counselor, dean, administrator, program and policy manager. He is currently the Co-Founder and Lead Learner of The Academy for Creating Excellence Atlanta, an African-American-male-focused charter school opening in 2021.

Marcus focuses his work on creating better culture and climate for students, families and staff. He believes deeply in restorative justice practices and in mindset and resiliency work that leads to excellent and equitable educational outcomes for all students.

A proud uncle, mentor and resident of Atlanta, GA, Marcus is the self-professed Mayor of the South End (in his hometown of Seattle), resident Batman and proud alumni of Rainier Beach High School and the University of Washington.

Erin Jones

Erin Jones is a nationally recognized educator and a former candidate for public office who now leads her own consulting company, focusing on equity, culturally-responsive practice and delivering motivational speeches.

Erin has been involved in education for more than 25 years, including time as a volunteer in a public school in North Philadelphia, a substitute in South Bend, Ind., a private school teacher, an ESL instructor, a classroom teacher in English and French Immersion in Tacoma, an instructional coach and AVID teacher in Spokane, an assistant state superintendent, and a school district director.

Erin’s three children attended public schools across Washington, from Tacoma to Puyallup to Spokane to North Thurston, and her husband is a public school teacher.