Our Team

Adanna Abakporo (she/her) is one of the equity and family engagement facilitators for the Eastlake Learning Community (ELC). Adanna was born and raised in north Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington with her bachelor's in Social Welfare and Disability Studies and her master's in Social Work. Adanna identifies as Nigerian-American and first generation - her parents emigrated from Nigeria to the US in the late 1980s and have been here ever since. Adanna is passionate about social justice, disability advocacy and racial equity for marginalized communities due to her personal and professional experiences. Adanna has two siblings with disabilities – her younger brother has autism and her younger sister has a developmental delay. Adanna has worked as a project coordinator, supporting transition-aged youth with disabilities from immigrant backgrounds, has been a job coach for transition-aged youth with disabilities, supporting Black/African American families in learning IEPs, advocating for their children with disabilities and has facilitated trainings based on privilege, power and social identities. Intersectionality is something that Adanna feels is important for everyone to educate themselves and to understand in their journey to learning about equity.  

Besides this, Adanna loves to work out, hike, eat various foods, read a good book and watch great TV shows on streaming services. Adanna also enjoys spending time with family and her friends.

Contact Adanna at aabakporo@lwsd.org.

Beverly Dosono (she/her) is the equity and family engagement facilitator for the Juanita Learning Community. Beverly is first-generation Filipino and was born and raised in the Yakima Valley. After receiving her bachelor's and master's of Education at the University of Washington, Beverly started her career at LWSD. Beverly has worked in education settings for almost 10 years and is passionate about advocating for underrepresented communities and supporting students/families from backgrounds like her own. Her identities and lived experiences are the driving force behind her dedication to equity and social justice in education.

Contact Beverly at bdosono@lwsd.org.

Blanca Rivas Lefort attended California State University, Los Angeles and graduated with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Early Childhood Education. She moved to Washington 21 years ago and has been working with the Lake Washington School District family for the past 10 years. Blanca is married and has two beautiful daughters. Her oldest completed her undergraduate at University of Tampa, and is currently working on her master’s degree. Her younger daughter recently graduated from Redmond High school and is now on her big adventure at college. Blanca looks forward to continuing building relationships with students and their families in our community.

Contact Blanca at brivaslefort@lwsd.org.

Catherine Cruz (she/her/ella) is our family engagement and community outreach coordinator, and joined LWSD in 2019. Prior to her current role, Catherine worked for 11 years in youth development and community work with homeless populations in which she closely collaborated with families, schools and cities among other entities to ensure the holistic success of the youth she worked with. She received her bachelor's and master's in Social Work with a concentration of Community Centered Integrative Practice from the University of Washington and is a first-generation college graduate. A proud bilingual daughter of Dominican immigrants, she is passionate about equity and being an anti-racist to see our youth not only survive but thrive. She fervently believes that through collaborating with our families and community, and honoring their funds of knowledge we will see a system in which our youth find joy in their education and self-development.

Contact Catherine at catcruz@lwsd.org. 

Damaly Soy (she/her), who also goes by the name Maly (pronounced Molly), is a refugee from Cambodia. She grew up in southern California and went through its public education system. Her family worked hard and struggled to make ends meet, leaning on each other and the local Cambodian community for support. Her experience navigating the public school system, language, cultural and socioeconomic barriers helped develop a passion for social justice and working with youth. She eventually earned her bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in history and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction.

As an equity specialist with the Equity and Family Engagement Department, she works to enact systemic change and support the development of culturally responsive education and pedagogy.

Contact Damaly at dsoy@lwsd.org.

Diana Williams (she/her) is a devoted mother to three LWSD scholars, a fierce advocate for all students, especially those furthest from educational equity, and the cultural liaison for families with Black LWSD Students. Core to her beliefs is that all children can learn and are entitled to an appropriate and accessible public education. This conviction stems from her lived experience as a Black, low-income student requiring educational intervention in Boulder, CO, and now raising her children in Kirkland for the past 16 years.  

Diana holds a bachelor's in Learning and Organizational Change, a bachelor's in International Studies/Latin America from Northwestern University and a master's in Business Administration from the University of Washington. With 25+ years of professional experience, Diana excels in solving complex problems and seizing audacious opportunities through influence and collaboration. 

If we as a community internalize the Mahatma Gandhi’s words, "Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny." Together we can build a district where EVERY child thrives.

Contact Diana at c-dwilliams@lwsd.org.

Oi, meu nome é Isabelly Benites e eu trabalho como Suporte Linguístico e Cultural para famílias Brasileiras e que falam Português do nosso distrito. Eu nasci no Brasil e vivi a maior parte da minha lá, então eu consigo me identificar bastante com a vida dos alunos e com os desafios diários das famílias em um novo País. Também tenho uma quantidade diversificada de experiência e conhecimento com crianças e jovens, como servindo no ministério infantil de uma igreja brasileira local, trabalhei com cuidados infantis por vários anos e voluntariado com crianças de todas as idades. Eu sou apaixonada por esse trabalho e profundamente honrada em poder ajudar e defender minha comunidade.  

Entre em contato, estou aqui para ajudar! c-ibenites@lwsd.org

Isabelly Benites is our cultural liaison for Brazilian and Portuguese speaking families. She is from Brazil and has lived most of her life there so she can relate a lot of the students' lives and challenges that they go through. She brings a diverse amount of experience and knowledge with kids and youth such as serving in the youth ministry of her local Brazilian church, working with childcare for several years and volunteering work with kids of all ages. She is passionate about her role and deeply honored to be able to help and advocate for her community. 

Contact Isabelly at c-ibenites@lwsd.org.

Jenni Martinez-Lorenzo was born in Seattle, raised in Redmond and is a Redmond High School graduate. As the daughter of undocumented immigrants (she is a proud Oaxaqueña and Guerrerense), Jenni has learned to navigate and advocate her way through systems such as education and healthcare, combining her lived expertise and knowledge she’s gained from collaborating with her community. In her time since graduating from LWSD, Jenni has served families throughout South King County as a Student Success Coach, College and Career Engagement Specialist, Social Services Specialist and Family Advocate. She approaches her work with a racial equity lens that centers the expertise of students and families and strongly believes in Audre Lorde’s words, “Without community, there is no liberation.” She is excited to be back in her home district and to support the success of students and families.

Contact Jenni at c-jmartinezlorenzo@lwsd.org.

penaho ne naniha Lauren Nabahe ne kwinawetün newe diné mono, ne noompai nyet de san dykne sun aka aeshuN

Lauren Nabahe is Paiute-Shoshone, Navajo and Mono from the traditional lands of her people in Lone Pine, California. She/her pronouns. Lauren serves as the Eastside Native American Education Program coordinator (ENAEP) for Bellevue, Lake Washington and Northshore school districts. Being able to serve Native youth in this capacity is a dream of Lauren's and in part fulfills her lifelong passion to give back to my Native community. Lauren is honored to be able to work alongside who she considers the greatest people on mother earth, our native youth.  

Lauren has a bachelor’s in Sports Medicine and a master’s degree in Special Education, a teacher’s certificate for the state of Washington and a Language Arts endorsement. When she is not at work you will find her beading, Pow-Wow dancing, or on some kind of outdoor adventure with her 5-year-old Aussie, Kaliko.

Contact Lauren at lnabahe@lwsd.org.

The school year 2024-25 represents my 31st year working in education and 19th year at Lake Washington School District. Over the course of my career, I have supported many different associate superintendents, directors, department  and schools. I love my position as the administrative assistant for the Equity and Family Engagement department and appreciate the inclusive workplace this department has helped create at LWSD.

Contact Lori at lspiry@lwsd.org.

Na’eemah is a social justice advocate dedicated to racial reconciliation, equity and eliminating societal factors that prevent diversity and inclusion. She began her career working as an after school dance club leader in South Central Los Angeles. As she noticed the difference that she made in the lives of youth and their communal environment, her passion for engaging youth and fostering community engagement was sparked. Since, Na’eemah has spent 14 years working in positions that have allowed her to work with and advocate for underrepresented communities. She received a B.A in English and master’s in American Studies. She has dedicated her graduate work to advocating for equity and social justice in marginalized communities. Her graduate work focuses on Critical Race Theory, social justice movements and African American Studies. Her doctoral project examines and unpacks the school-to-prison pipeline. Prior to her current role, she spent two years serving as a family and community engagement liaison at Muir Elementary. She now looks forward to furthering equity at the district level.

Contact at Na'eemah Webb at nawebb@lwsd.org.

Pablo Ortega is the son of Mexican immigrants. He was born and raised in the City of Chicago. He is a product of the Chicago Public Schools. After working in the corporate and government sectors in various human resources leadership positions, Mr. Ortega switched careers and became a middle school math teacher for multilingual students. He later served as a middle school principal for Aspira Charter Schools in Chicago. Mr. Ortega brings with him experience as a bilingual instructional leader with deep expertise in instruction for English language learners, having been one himself. 

Mr. Ortega has a School Administrator/Superintendent endorsement from Lewis University and Drake University, a master’s degree in Education focusing on Multilingual and Secondary Mathematics from Quincy University, and a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from DePaul University.   

As the director of Equity and Family Engagement for Lake Washington Schools, Mr. Ortega continues to expand his personal mission to drive equitable results for all students regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, gender or English language abilities.

Contact Pablo at portega@lwsd.org.

Rodrigo Mendoza Vazquez works in the McKinney-Vento foster care liaison department. Rodrigo is passionate and dedicated to making a positive impact in the community. His background in social service and technology experience help him advocate for those in need by providing support to vulnerable populations. Originally from Puebla, Mexico, Rodrigo is bilingual in English and Spanish. As a bilingual individual, it provides him with the opportunity to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps with ease within the Hispanic community. Rodrigo recently completed my certification as a web developer.  He is married and has two dogs. Rodrigo believes that life is full of opportunities and second chances. He enjoys helping others and fixing things up.

Contact Rodrigo at c-rvazquez@lwsd.org.

Sergio Jose Barrera (He/Him/His) currently serves as the equity and family engagement facilitator for the Redmond Learning Community. As a first-generation undocumented immigrant born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Sergio’s commitment to equity is deeply rooted in the strength and courage demonstrated by his parents when they immigrated to Everett, WA alongside his two sisters. Proudly embracing his new identity as “Uncle Jose,” the joy in the work is grounded in the second generation of his direct family here in the US, which has expanded to include five beautiful nieces and nephews.  

His journey working with youth and families began during his early days as the Youth Director at the Everett Family YMCA, Sergio has always been passionate about exposing youth of color to unique experiences that would allow them to envision their goals and aspirations for who they want to become as attainable and within their grasp. Through meaningful conversations centered around social justice and identity development, Sergio seeks to empower students to unapologetically advocate for themselves and their community. His involvement extends beyond the Redmond Learning Community; he also contributes to organizations such as La Cima Bilingual Leadership, where he serves as the junior counselor coordinator and collaborates on consulting projects with the Equity Institute. 

Contact Sergio at sbarrerabatista@lwsd.org.

Susan Custer is an Equity and Family Engagement Facilitator, serving the Lake Washington Learning Community. Born and raised in the PNW, Susan cares deeply about this community. Her older brother suffered a brain injury as a toddler, resulting in developmental and intellectual delays. Susan was impacted largely by watching her brother and her parents navigate the special education system, dealing with academic, behavioral and social issues. After high school, Susan earned a bachelor's in Human Services from Western Washington University. Her career has included working with seniors, students, and adults with developmental disabilities.

Contact Susan at scuster@lwsd.org.

Terri understands what it’s like being a mixed kid and growing up in a society where you’re labeled as “not white enough” or “not Korean enough."  She is mom to two, fun-loving, multi-racial mixed kids and is married to a mixed Black South African American. Her impactful childhood experiences led her to spend years volunteering in the LWSD and ultimately left her finance career to focus all her time on helping students and families. Her passion around the concepts of equity, inclusion, belonging, justice and diversity moved her to co-launch a DEI consulting firm with her husband. She has served on several school equity teams in the Juanita Learning Community, the district equity team, the LWSD equity policy subcommittee, the LWSD PTSA DEI committee and is the founder and chair of the Juanita High School PTSA DEI committee. 

Her work with the district is focused on food security, equity in athletics and activities, relationship building, family engagement, support and advocacy for our immigrant families and connecting people to resources within the district and community. She is curious, a deep listener/observer and seeks to understand so that students and families feel seen and know that they belong and are enough.

Contact Terri at c-tdayton@lwsd.org.

Virginia Ramirez Romero is our district language access coordinator dedicated to implementing a language access plan to ensure effective and equitable two-way communication between schools and families who are facing communication barriers. She brings a wealth of experience, culturally relevant knowledge and passion for her role after 20 years of working as an interpreter for our Latinx community, helping our families to navigate the American school system and breaking the language challenges. Her own experience as a Latina raising two bilingual students has been her inspiration to create an inclusive communication system where all families can engage meaningfully in their children’s education, regardless of language barriers. Virginia is originally from Caracas, Venezuela and has a bachelor's degree in Social Communications and master's degree in Corporate Communications.

Contact Virginia at vramirezromero@lwsd.org.