GATE Partnership Advisory Committee

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Contact Information

Krissy Johnson 

Attendance & Engagement Assistant Director Student Engagement and Support 

Directed by RCW 28A.175.075, OSPI to establish the statewide Graduation: A Team Effort Advisory Partnership Committee in 2007 (known as the GATE Advisory Committee). The purpose of the GATE Advisory Committee is to assist and enhance the work of the programs established in RCW 28A.175.025, known collectively as the Building Bridges Program, by:

  1. Identifying and making recommendations to the legislature for the reduction of fiscal, legal, and regulatory barriers that prevent coordination of program resources across agencies at the state and local level;
  2. Developing and tracking performance measures and benchmarks for each partner agency or organization across the state including performance measures and benchmarks based on student characteristics and outcomes specified in RCW 28A.175.035(1)(e); and
  3. Identifying research-based and emerging best practices regarding prevention, intervention, and retrieval programs.

GATE Advisory Committee Meetings

The GATE Advisory Committee meets quarterly and all meetings are open to the public. See the attachment below for the 2025-26 meeting schedule.” Under that paragraph, add a link to the document “GATE Advisory Meeting Schedule 2025–26.

Membership

Advisory Committee membership is established by RCW 28A.175.075. If you are interested in attending a future meeting as a member of the public, please contact Krissy Johnson.

GATE Advisory Committee Members
Committee Members Member Rolls
Alexi Castilla A representative of the Office of Juvenile Justice
Ambra Bryant A representative of a local school, from College Place High School
Angela Steck A representative of parent associations, from the Washington State Parent Teacher Association
Christine Simonsmeier A representative of the Washington Association of Juvenile Court Administrators, from Clark County Juvenile Court
Cris Turner A representative of a local school district, from North Mason School District
Dana Phelps  A representative of the Department of Children, Youth, & Families Division of Vocational Reengagement
Ekkarath Sisavatdy A representative of the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs
Elise Friedrich-Nielsen A representative of a local school district, from Tacoma Public Schools
Frieda Takamura A representative of the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee
George Yeannakis A representative of the Washington State Office of Public Defense
Jamie Kvistad A representative of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, from the King County Prosecutor's Office
Kimberly Sanchez A representative of the Department of Health
LaKymbria Jones A representative of community organizations serving youth, from Bold Solutions WA
Melissa Beard A representative of accredited institutions of higher education
Nadine Philp A representative of the Office of Education Ombuds
Nicholas Oakley A representative of community organizations serving youth, from the Center for Children & Youth Justice
Nicole Hanson  A representative of the Employment Security Department
Nora Zollweg A representative of the Washington Association for Career and Technical Education, from the West Sound Technical Skills Centers
Patrick Vincent A representative of a local school district, from Union Gap School District
Peggy Carlson A representative of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Representative Skyler Rude A representative of the House Republican Caucus
Representative Steve Bergquist A representative of the House Democratic Caucus
Rhonda Schmidt A representative of a local school district, from Ellensburg School District
Sandy Gessner Crabtree A representative from the Education Services Districts, from Olympic Education Service District 114
Senator Yasmin Trudeau A representative of the Senate Democratic Caucus
Susan Adams A representative of the Washington Workforce Association, from SkillSource Regional Workforce Board
Tamra Scheetz A representative of a local school district, from Battle Ground Public Schools
Vacant A representative of the Commission on African American Affairs
Vacant A representative of the Commission on Hispanic Affairs
Vacant A representative of the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs
Vacant A representative of the Health Care Authority's Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery
Vacant A representative of agencies and organizations that provide special education supports to students
Vacant A representative of the Senate Republican Caucus
Vacant A representative of the State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
Vacant A representative of educator associations
Vacant A representative of the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board

 

Legislative Reports

Notes & Agendas

2025–26

All meeting times will be 9:00-11:00am.

2024–25

All meeting times will be from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM unless otherwise announced.

2021–22

April 19, 2022, Collective power to support student pandemic recovery and acceleration

December 14, 2021, Recovering from the COVID-19 Pandemic

2019–20

May 12, 2020, Dual Credit

Due to current "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" measures, our meeting was a virtual meeting to explore dual credit outcomes and learn about increasing equitable access to dual credit from multiple viewpoints.

Dual Credit Advisory Meeting Presentation

December 10, 2019: Hope, Mentoring, and Youth Voice

December GATE Advisory Presentation