Lake Washington Schools Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of five new Trustees.
The new trustees for a three-year term effective July 1, 2022, are Catherine Boeger, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft; Jana Koeberle, Sr. Vice President at Kemper Development, Girish Joshi, Global Technical Director at Microsoft; Sudha Sharma, LWSD educator; and Dan Ross, Partner at Hill Wallack LLP.
“LWSF’s mission centers on enhancing academic access and nurturing the emotional well-being of all students in the Lake Washington School District,” said Foundation Executive Director, Katy Philips. “On behalf of the entire organization, we could not be more delighted to welcome our new Trustees, who bring a wealth of passion, experience, and perspective to our work.”
New trustee Catherine Boeger is a Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, responsible for driving revenue, usage, and customer satisfaction objectives for Microsoft 365. She brings extensive leadership experience across the areas of marketing, sales, finance, and business strategy. With two teenage daughters in the Lake Washington School District, Catherine has been passionate about education throughout her life, drawing inspiration from her grandparents who were elementary and middle school teachers. Catherine shares, “I’m very excited to join the Lake Washington Schools Foundation to help contribute to the experience of all students across the district to create and support programs that contribute to a more inclusive and supported learning experience.”
With 25+ years’ experience in her industry, Jana Koeberle is the Sr. Vice President of Retail Real Estate and Development for Kemper Development. Having had a positive experience raising two kids and being part of the community of Lake Washington School District, Jana has always been struck by the size of the district and the wide range of needs across the student population. She believes that creating resources to support the schools and the students is critical work. “I feel so lucky to have been able to send my kids through the LWSD schools and for all the support my children received over the years,” she reflects. “I look forward to joining the Foundation to help build on all the programs already created and find new ways to serve our students.”
Girish Joshi is a Global Technical Director at Microsoft with over 17 years of experience in software/services/products and global sales & strategy across a range of businesses in the Pacific Northwest and around the world. “I am passionate about youth mental health and believe that no one should have to face a difficult mental health condition alone, especially teenagers,” remarks Girish. His personal interest in researching practical, innovative, and effective ways to transform mental health allows him to make impactful change as a board member with NAMI Eastside, a volunteer with the homeless community, and now as a trustee with the Foundation.
Sudha Sharma feels a personal connection to the Lake Washington School District. Her breadth of experience as a parent, PTSA volunteer, and now an educator in the district grants her a unique perspective on the vast needs of the learning community. Sudha has seen the impact of LWSF’s work firsthand and is excited to advocate and support the Foundation’s programs and fundraising efforts. Sudha is also a certified Meditation and Yoga instructor.
Dan Ross is a partner at Hill Wallack LLP, where he concentrates his practice on bankruptcy, foreclosure, eviction, commercial real estate transactions and litigation. Dan earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and his B.A. in Business from the University of Washington. He looks forward to applying his experience and insights to support the mission of the Foundation.
Last year the Foundation invested over $500,000 in programs and projects that remove barriers, support wellness, build connections, and enhance learning in the Lake Washington School District. The funds raised are made possible by the generous support of donors, grantors and corporate sponsors who want to make a difference in the lives of students and families in our community.
