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Home » About CWA » The Board of Trustees » Trustee Bios
Sanjay Agrawal believes CWA played an important role in his family’s decision to relocate to Tacoma and feels fortunate to have access to this great school. "CWA has an amazing environment that fosters a comprehensive education and helps build a strong foundation for any career," he says. "The sense of the school community can be felt at every moment, both inside and outside the classrooms." His favorite moments on campus are spent watching Lower School students apply the skills and strategies they have learned in chess club to everyday life. Sanjay has two children attending CWA, Devika ’13 and Raghav ’19.
After medical school, Sanjay completed his residency at Syracuse and a fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. He has been in clinical practice for almost a decade. He is a partner at Digestive Health Specialists and practices in Tacoma and Gig Harbor. He serves on several committees in the practice and at Multicare Health System. In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, traveling, golfing and spending time with his family.
Adam Birnbaum’s two sons Drake ’14 and Brandon ’16 have both attended CWA since beginning school. When Adam and his wife Claire were looking into schools for their boys, CWA was the clear standout. The dedication of the faculty and staff to the whole child was unparalled. They especially appreciated the school's emphasis on academic excellence, inspired learning, social grace and compassion for those in need, self respect and respect for others, and staying physically as well as mentally fit. Adam believes that the strong sense of community among not only the students and teachers, but families as well, ensures that every CWA student will experience a nuturing but rigorous learning environment.
Adam is a graduate of the University of Washington and an attorney whose practice is based in Puyallup. He enjoys working on cars, playing music, snowboarding, and spending time with his wife and children. He serves as legal advisor to many different associations and currently serves as a Trustee on the Board of Temple Beth El in Tacoma.
Kathy Dobler believes the level of involvement by teachers, parents, grandparents, and children, is what makes Charles Wright a great school. “It amazes me to see all the dedication given by people,” she says. Kathy graduated from Charles Wright in 1979 and has two children attending the school, Katie ’18 and David ’20. “Watching my daughter and my nephew enter Beginning School at Charles Wright together was my favorite moment,” says Dobler who attended the school with her two of her sisters. “It’s wonderful to see a second generation receiving the benefits of a Charles Wright education.”
Kathy is a real estate broker and the president of Dobler Management Company, a real estate management firm she co-founded with her sisters. She is also the treasurer of Sound Screening Services and a member of the board of Pierce Commercial Bank. She graduated from the University of Puget Sound. She lives in Gig Harbor and is active in the community through Kappa Kappa Gamma, the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital board and various real estate associations. She enjoys running with a group of other CWA parents and reading “anything and everything” recommended by her book club. “Without a doubt, I’m a ‘born’ soccer mom,” says Kathy. “I love to help, watch, yell and encourage.”
Dana Gaume graduated from CWA in 1983 and is the mother of two current students, Sam ’12 and Sidney ’14. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Washington and continued her studies in accounting. She is a licensed CPA and she is grateful to be able to work seasonally for Johnson, Stone & Pagano, PS while she raises her family. Dana enjoys painting and is also passionate about yoga. She is in the process of obtaining her yoga teaching certification.
In addition to CWA’s strong academic program, Dana believes that the personal growth CWA students gain through participation in the sports, performing arts, outdoor education and community service programs is vital to creating a well-rounded learning experience. Dana admires the dedication of the entire Charles Wright community for supporting the academic and personal growth of its students.
Blake Goldberg has two children attending CWA, Jackson ’19 and Levi ’22. He graduated from the University of Puget Sound and works for Ilahie Holdings, LLC as a marketing manager. Ilahie is a private equity real estate portfolio management company based in Seattle with properties in the downtown Tacoma and Federal Way markets. Blake says his favorite events on campus are the weekly town hall meetings led by Lower School Head Diane Hunt. He believes engaged parents are what make the school such a special place. He enjoys fly fishing and gaming.
George Gonzalez is the father of three CWA students: Andrew '15, Madelyn '16 and Maria '19. “My most significant observation of Charles Wright is that this is a place where each individual student can learn about the love of learning for a lifetime,” he says. “This is done with passion, empathy, humor and respect for each child and their learning needs.”
George graduated the University of California, Los Angeles, and earned a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at Boston University’s Goldman School of Dentistry. He completed post-doctoral study at the Harvard University School of Dentistry Veterans Affairs Medical Center where he completed a certificate in Advanced General Practice Dentistry. He also completed a prosthodontics residency program at the Veterans Medical Center affiliated with the San Francisco School of Dentistry. He has practiced dentistry for 22 years in several Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and has spent the past 14 years at the American Lake Campus. He is also a US Air Force Reserve dental officer with the rank of Lt. Colonel.
George is passionate about his family, his children’s activities, and a variety of humanitarian efforts. He is an active member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and has led several house-building mission trips to Mexico. With the Air Force Reserve, he has provided dental care to indigenous Gurarani people in Paraguay. He also coaches youth soccer and is a big fan of Sounders FC.
Kit Herrod graduated from CWA in 1971 and studied economics at Stanford University and art history at the University of Minnesota. She is the Director of External Affairs at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. “My favorite moment at CWA was the end of the first marking period when I realized I had enjoyed the challenge of the work and realized I could successfully do it,” she says. “The tailored and unique support, and nurturing each child receives in order to realize their best, is what makes Charles Wright special.” Kit enjoys skiing, travel and art. She is also involved with the Seattle Art Museum.
Manuel Iregui is the father of three CWA students - Nicholas ’17, Benjamin ’21, and Caroline ’25. He and his wife, Chiarina, serve as co-chairs of the Parent Association’s Wright Spirit Auction. Manuel was born in Columbia and attended college there. After graduating from medical school, he completed a fellowship at Washington University. He specializes in pulmonary care and critical care sleep medicine and is a member of clinic staff at Pulmonary Consultants, PLLC.
John Long graduated from CWA in 1964. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English at Williams College and Master’s in Teaching English at the University of Washington. He brings a unique perspective to the board as the first retired member of the CWA faculty to become a Trustee. John was a teacher, coach and administrator at CWA for 36 years. He believes the relationships between students and teachers and an environment which values learning are what make CWA special.
John also serves on the Island County board of Habitat for Humanity, coordinates volunteers for the South Whidbey Schools and is the head Middle School youth leader at his local Unitarian church. He loves kayaking but his main hobby is wood carving. “In retirement, I have had the chance to carve a lot of masks,” he explains. “Working in a shop redolent of red cedar shavings is heaven.”
Sue Mayer believes Charles Wright has a “wonderful culture that combines serious academics, athletics, arts, service, and personal responsibility, all with a spirit of fun.” Her son Mike graduated in 2010 and her daughter Katie is a member of the class of 2013. She enjoys almost any moment on campus spent with Lower School kids. Sue is the board treasurer.
Sue works for Concut, a family-owned manufacturing business, but most of her professional experience is in health care marketing and planning. She graduated from the University of California-Davis and the Harvard Business School. She is a court appointed special advocate for Pierce County Juvenile Court, manages a youth soccer team, and volunteers with Relay for Life and Soccer Kids for Cancer. She lives in Gig Harbor and enjoys walking, reading, outdoor sports, and learning Chinese.
Anna Meadowcroft is married to a CWA alum and the mother of three current students, Blake ’14, Lauren ’16 and Alex ’18. “I appreciate the values that Charles Wright helps enforce of respect, responsibility, hard work and giving back to your community,” she says. Anna co-chaired CWA’s 50th birthday celebration and says, “I loved seeing Sam Brown and Dee Knight ‘cut a rug’ at the birthday bash! That made all the hours of planning worthwhile!”
Anna studied speech communication at the University of Washington. Before starting a family, she worked as a special events coordinator for the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle and coordinated the Junior Volunteer program for Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue. She is a past board member of the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club and the Job Carr Cabin Museum in Old Town Tacoma. She enjoys cooking and traveling with her husband, spending time with her parents and siblings, taking walks with her kids and dog, and reading biographies.
Sherry Mondou’s son, Nate, a member of the class of 2013, joined CWA as a kindergartner and has experienced each of the lower, middle and upper schools. Sherry believes Charles Wright is a special place: a place where students are challenged and nurtured, a place where teaching is exceptional and learning is fun, a place where community and friendships are strong, and most importantly, a place where students thrive.
Sherry earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with an Accounting Concentration from the University of Washington and began her career as a CPA. After working in public accounting and corporate finance for ten years, Sherry made a career move that aligned with her values, choosing to work within private higher education. She has served the University of Puget Sound for more than two decades and is currently vice president for finance and administration. Sherry lives at Lake Tapps and enjoys snow skiing, Pilates, watching baseball, and spending time with her family and friends.
Rich Osaka joined the Charles Wright community when his son was a fifth grader. He was invited to “tag along and stay out of the way” on the annual class trip to Washington DC and Williamsburg, VA. “It was then that I struck up a lot of friendships with other parents in my son’s class,” says Rich. His son Ryan graduated in 2010. Rich is the board secretary.
Rich is a retired business owner and a current board member of the Multicare Health Foundation. He also volunteers with the Boy Scouts at both the council and troop level. Rich graduated from the University of Washington and lives in Des Moines. His main hobby is golf, but he also likes to unwind by doing sodoku puzzles and reading.
Cliff Quisenberry is the father of two CWA students, Ryan '14 and Connor '19. His favorite moment on campus was attending his first Lower School Holiday Concert the year his son Connor came to Charles Wright in second grade. "The dedication of the faculty, staff and parents makes Charles Wright an unparalleled academic experience," says Cliff. He also appreciates "the obvious enthusiasm that this inspires in the school's students."
Cliff earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Yale University. He currently acts as Chief Investment Officer of Caravan Capital Management, managing a fund dedicated to frontier and early stage frontier emerging markets. He is also the chair of the planning commissioner for the City of University Place and has served on several of the city's ad-hoc advisory committees. He enjoys fly-fishing, music and travel.
Laura Reynolds is the mother of Parker '11 and Colin '13. She has been an active volunteer at the school for many years serving as an auction co-chair and chair of Oktoberfest for several years. What Laura most values about CWA are the close personal relationships between students, teachers and parents. Laura graduated from St. Lawrence College and worked at IBM in sales for 12 years in Boston and New York before moving to Tacoma. She is the past president of the Tacoma Jean Cunningham Guild, a group that raises money for the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Health Center.
Bill Rush has shepherded eight CWA students through their studies as a parent, guardian, uncle, grandfather and great uncle. He says his involvement in his children’s academic and athletic endeavors at Charles Wright and serving on the Board of Trustees have both been enriching experiences. “What makes Charles Wright so special is that it offers the opportunity to maximize the ability and potential of young people in academics,” he says.
Bill is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound and the University of Washington School of Law. He has worked as a private attorney in Tacoma since 1959. He is also involved with the YMCA, Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association and Washington State Bar Association. In the 1960s and 70s he was active in the Browns Point Community Club. He enjoys skiing, fishing, gardening, physical activities and studying the financial markets.
Doug Sharp earned a degree in history from the University of Washington but has worked in the financial services business for more than 30 years and currently serves as a senior vice president and private portfolio manager for Ragen MacKenzie, a division of Wells Fargo Investments, LLC. His daughter Megan ’04 graduated from Charles Wright and his son Gregory (’00) also attended the school.
“No one moment stands out as much as the frequent reminder that both my children and many others I know are better prepared to think critically and take on the challenges of the world because of their education at CWA,” says Doug. He particularly appreciates the dedication of parents, students, faculty and administrators who are brought together by a shared commitment to achievement, knowledge and mutual respect.
Through the years, Doug has served on the Tacoma Philharmonic board and the University Presbyterian Church Session, among other activities. He enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Dale Sowell is the father of a CWA alum and a current student - Tyler '04 and Travis '14. He earned his MBA at the University of Washington and is employed by Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company as Executive Vice-President. Dale is active in the community serving on the Board of Directors for MultiCare Health System and as Vice Chair of the Regional Advisory Board for Good Samaritan Hospital. He deeply appreciates Charles Wright's faculty and the nurturing culture they create on campus. He appreciates being on campus whenever possible with the end of year school events being particularly enjoyable, including the fifth grade Moving On ceremony, eighth grade graduation, and Upper School commencement.
MJ (Allen) Stackpole graduated from CWA in 1978. “As an alum, I am very interested in giving back to Charles Wright and supporting the school,” she says. MJ joined the Board of Trustees in 2010. She is a first grade teacher at Evergreen Primary in the University Place School District. She graduated of Whittier College and earned her Master’s degree at City University.
MJ is very active in the community. She has served on the boards of Tacoma Actors Guild, Children’s Museum, Junior League and Tacoma Farmer’s Market, as well as the Activities Council of the Tacoma Arts Museum. She enjoys tennis, skiing, and other outdoor pursuits.
Sarah Weyerhaeuser’s favorite moment in CWA history was the school-wide excitement over voting for the Tarriers in the school’s first KIRO-7 Game of the Week competition in September of 2008. “We are a pre-k through 12th grade school where all students feel a vested interest in the success of other students at the school, not just their ‘age-mates,’” says Sarah.
As the wife of an alum (David ’77) and mother of three alums (Kaylee ’07, Jake ’09 and Natalie ’11), Sarah has spent a lot of time on campus and attends many athletic events. She also volunteers with several community organizations and has served on the boards of Point Defiance Zoo, Tacoma Youth Chorus and Multicare Foundation. She is currently an advisory board member for the University of Washington-Tacoma. She graduated from Williams College with a bachelor’s degree in math and political science and worked as a high school math teacher. She is the vice-chair of the board.
Dwight Williams, the board chair, believes Charles Wright’s sense of community is what makes this school unique. His son Andrew ’06 graduated from CWA and his daughter Rachel ’11 was a CWA “Lifer”.
Dwight is Regional Counsel for the Northwest Mountain Region of the Federal Aviation Administration. He recently retired as the State Judge Advocate for the Washington National Guard at the rank of colonel. He holds degrees from Washington and Jefferson College and Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He lives in Lakewood and one of his hobbies is paying tuition bills.
Sanjay Agrawal believes CWA played an important role in his family’s decision to relocate to Tacoma and feels fortunate to have access to this great school. "CWA has an amazing environment that fosters a comprehensive education and helps build a strong foundation for any career," he says. "The sense of the school community can be felt at every moment, both inside and outside the classrooms." His favorite moments on campus are spent watching Lower School students apply the skills and strategies they have learned in chess club to everyday life. Sanjay has two children attending CWA, Devika ’13 and Raghav ’19.
After medical school, Sanjay completed his residency at Syracuse and a fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. He has been in clinical practice for almost a decade. He is a partner at Digestive Health Specialists and practices in Tacoma and Gig Harbor. He serves on several committees in the practice and at Multicare Health System. In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, traveling, golfing and spending time with his family.
Adam Birnbaum’s two sons Drake ’14 and Brandon ’16 have both attended CWA since beginning school. When Adam and his wife Claire were looking into schools for their boys, CWA was the clear standout. The dedication of the faculty and staff to the whole child was unparalled. They especially appreciated the school's emphasis on academic excellence, inspired learning, social grace and compassion for those in need, self respect and respect for others, and staying physically as well as mentally fit. Adam believes that the strong sense of community among not only the students and teachers, but families as well, ensures that every CWA student will experience a nuturing but rigorous learning environment.
Adam is a graduate of the University of Washington and an attorney whose practice is based in Puyallup. He enjoys working on cars, playing music, snowboarding, and spending time with his wife and children. He serves as legal advisor to many different associations and currently serves as a Trustee on the Board of Temple Beth El in Tacoma.
Kathy Dobler believes the level of involvement by teachers, parents, grandparents, and children, is what makes Charles Wright a great school. “It amazes me to see all the dedication given by people,” she says. Kathy graduated from Charles Wright in 1979 and has two children attending the school, Katie ’18 and David ’20. “Watching my daughter and my nephew enter Beginning School at Charles Wright together was my favorite moment,” says Dobler who attended the school with her two of her sisters. “It’s wonderful to see a second generation receiving the benefits of a Charles Wright education.”
Kathy is a real estate broker and the president of Dobler Management Company, a real estate management firm she co-founded with her sisters. She is also the treasurer of Sound Screening Services and a member of the board of Pierce Commercial Bank. She graduated from the University of Puget Sound. She lives in Gig Harbor and is active in the community through Kappa Kappa Gamma, the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital board and various real estate associations. She enjoys running with a group of other CWA parents and reading “anything and everything” recommended by her book club. “Without a doubt, I’m a ‘born’ soccer mom,” says Kathy. “I love to help, watch, yell and encourage.”
Dana Gaume graduated from CWA in 1983 and is the mother of two current students, Sam ’12 and Sidney ’14. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Washington and continued her studies in accounting. She is a licensed CPA and she is grateful to be able to work seasonally for Johnson, Stone & Pagano, PS while she raises her family. Dana enjoys painting and is also passionate about yoga. She is in the process of obtaining her yoga teaching certification.
In addition to CWA’s strong academic program, Dana believes that the personal growth CWA students gain through participation in the sports, performing arts, outdoor education and community service programs is vital to creating a well-rounded learning experience. Dana admires the dedication of the entire Charles Wright community for supporting the academic and personal growth of its students.
Blake Goldberg has two children attending CWA, Jackson ’19 and Levi ’22. He graduated from the University of Puget Sound and works for Ilahie Holdings, LLC as a marketing manager. Ilahie is a private equity real estate portfolio management company based in Seattle with properties in the downtown Tacoma and Federal Way markets. Blake says his favorite events on campus are the weekly town hall meetings led by Lower School Head Diane Hunt. He believes engaged parents are what make the school such a special place. He enjoys fly fishing and gaming.
George Gonzalez is the father of three CWA students: Andrew '15, Madelyn '16 and Maria '19. “My most significant observation of Charles Wright is that this is a place where each individual student can learn about the love of learning for a lifetime,” he says. “This is done with passion, empathy, humor and respect for each child and their learning needs.”
George graduated the University of California, Los Angeles, and earned a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at Boston University’s Goldman School of Dentistry. He completed post-doctoral study at the Harvard University School of Dentistry Veterans Affairs Medical Center where he completed a certificate in Advanced General Practice Dentistry. He also completed a prosthodontics residency program at the Veterans Medical Center affiliated with the San Francisco School of Dentistry. He has practiced dentistry for 22 years in several Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and has spent the past 14 years at the American Lake Campus. He is also a US Air Force Reserve dental officer with the rank of Lt. Colonel.
George is passionate about his family, his children’s activities, and a variety of humanitarian efforts. He is an active member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and has led several house-building mission trips to Mexico. With the Air Force Reserve, he has provided dental care to indigenous Gurarani people in Paraguay. He also coaches youth soccer and is a big fan of Sounders FC.
Kit Herrod graduated from CWA in 1971 and studied economics at Stanford University and art history at the University of Minnesota. She is the Director of External Affairs at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. “My favorite moment at CWA was the end of the first marking period when I realized I had enjoyed the challenge of the work and realized I could successfully do it,” she says. “The tailored and unique support, and nurturing each child receives in order to realize their best, is what makes Charles Wright special.” Kit enjoys skiing, travel and art. She is also involved with the Seattle Art Museum.
Manuel Iregui is the father of three CWA students - Nicholas ’17, Benjamin ’21, and Caroline ’25. He and his wife, Chiarina, serve as co-chairs of the Parent Association’s Wright Spirit Auction. Manuel was born in Columbia and attended college there. After graduating from medical school, he completed a fellowship at Washington University. He specializes in pulmonary care and critical care sleep medicine and is a member of clinic staff at Pulmonary Consultants, PLLC.
John Long graduated from CWA in 1964. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English at Williams College and Master’s in Teaching English at the University of Washington. He brings a unique perspective to the board as the first retired member of the CWA faculty to become a Trustee. John was a teacher, coach and administrator at CWA for 36 years. He believes the relationships between students and teachers and an environment which values learning are what make CWA special.
John also serves on the Island County board of Habitat for Humanity, coordinates volunteers for the South Whidbey Schools and is the head Middle School youth leader at his local Unitarian church. He loves kayaking but his main hobby is wood carving. “In retirement, I have had the chance to carve a lot of masks,” he explains. “Working in a shop redolent of red cedar shavings is heaven.”
Sue Mayer believes Charles Wright has a “wonderful culture that combines serious academics, athletics, arts, service, and personal responsibility, all with a spirit of fun.” Her son Mike graduated in 2010 and her daughter Katie is a member of the class of 2013. She enjoys almost any moment on campus spent with Lower School kids. Sue is the board treasurer.
Sue works for Concut, a family-owned manufacturing business, but most of her professional experience is in health care marketing and planning. She graduated from the University of California-Davis and the Harvard Business School. She is a court appointed special advocate for Pierce County Juvenile Court, manages a youth soccer team, and volunteers with Relay for Life and Soccer Kids for Cancer. She lives in Gig Harbor and enjoys walking, reading, outdoor sports, and learning Chinese.
Anna Meadowcroft is married to a CWA alum and the mother of three current students, Blake ’14, Lauren ’16 and Alex ’18. “I appreciate the values that Charles Wright helps enforce of respect, responsibility, hard work and giving back to your community,” she says. Anna co-chaired CWA’s 50th birthday celebration and says, “I loved seeing Sam Brown and Dee Knight ‘cut a rug’ at the birthday bash! That made all the hours of planning worthwhile!”
Anna studied speech communication at the University of Washington. Before starting a family, she worked as a special events coordinator for the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle and coordinated the Junior Volunteer program for Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue. She is a past board member of the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club and the Job Carr Cabin Museum in Old Town Tacoma. She enjoys cooking and traveling with her husband, spending time with her parents and siblings, taking walks with her kids and dog, and reading biographies.
Sherry Mondou’s son, Nate, a member of the class of 2013, joined CWA as a kindergartner and has experienced each of the lower, middle and upper schools. Sherry believes Charles Wright is a special place: a place where students are challenged and nurtured, a place where teaching is exceptional and learning is fun, a place where community and friendships are strong, and most importantly, a place where students thrive.
Sherry earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with an Accounting Concentration from the University of Washington and began her career as a CPA. After working in public accounting and corporate finance for ten years, Sherry made a career move that aligned with her values, choosing to work within private higher education. She has served the University of Puget Sound for more than two decades and is currently vice president for finance and administration. Sherry lives at Lake Tapps and enjoys snow skiing, Pilates, watching baseball, and spending time with her family and friends.
Rich Osaka joined the Charles Wright community when his son was a fifth grader. He was invited to “tag along and stay out of the way” on the annual class trip to Washington DC and Williamsburg, VA. “It was then that I struck up a lot of friendships with other parents in my son’s class,” says Rich. His son Ryan graduated in 2010. Rich is the board secretary.
Rich is a retired business owner and a current board member of the Multicare Health Foundation. He also volunteers with the Boy Scouts at both the council and troop level. Rich graduated from the University of Washington and lives in Des Moines. His main hobby is golf, but he also likes to unwind by doing sodoku puzzles and reading.
Cliff Quisenberry is the father of two CWA students, Ryan '14 and Connor '19. His favorite moment on campus was attending his first Lower School Holiday Concert the year his son Connor came to Charles Wright in second grade. "The dedication of the faculty, staff and parents makes Charles Wright an unparalleled academic experience," says Cliff. He also appreciates "the obvious enthusiasm that this inspires in the school's students."
Cliff earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Yale University. He currently acts as Chief Investment Officer of Caravan Capital Management, managing a fund dedicated to frontier and early stage frontier emerging markets. He is also the chair of the planning commissioner for the City of University Place and has served on several of the city's ad-hoc advisory committees. He enjoys fly-fishing, music and travel.
Laura Reynolds is the mother of Parker '11 and Colin '13. She has been an active volunteer at the school for many years serving as an auction co-chair and chair of Oktoberfest for several years. What Laura most values about CWA are the close personal relationships between students, teachers and parents. Laura graduated from St. Lawrence College and worked at IBM in sales for 12 years in Boston and New York before moving to Tacoma. She is the past president of the Tacoma Jean Cunningham Guild, a group that raises money for the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Health Center.
Bill Rush has shepherded eight CWA students through their studies as a parent, guardian, uncle, grandfather and great uncle. He says his involvement in his children’s academic and athletic endeavors at Charles Wright and serving on the Board of Trustees have both been enriching experiences. “What makes Charles Wright so special is that it offers the opportunity to maximize the ability and potential of young people in academics,” he says.
Bill is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound and the University of Washington School of Law. He has worked as a private attorney in Tacoma since 1959. He is also involved with the YMCA, Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association and Washington State Bar Association. In the 1960s and 70s he was active in the Browns Point Community Club. He enjoys skiing, fishing, gardening, physical activities and studying the financial markets.
Doug Sharp earned a degree in history from the University of Washington but has worked in the financial services business for more than 30 years and currently serves as a senior vice president and private portfolio manager for Ragen MacKenzie, a division of Wells Fargo Investments, LLC. His daughter Megan ’04 graduated from Charles Wright and his son Gregory (’00) also attended the school.
“No one moment stands out as much as the frequent reminder that both my children and many others I know are better prepared to think critically and take on the challenges of the world because of their education at CWA,” says Doug. He particularly appreciates the dedication of parents, students, faculty and administrators who are brought together by a shared commitment to achievement, knowledge and mutual respect.
Through the years, Doug has served on the Tacoma Philharmonic board and the University Presbyterian Church Session, among other activities. He enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Dale Sowell is the father of a CWA alum and a current student - Tyler '04 and Travis '14. He earned his MBA at the University of Washington and is employed by Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company as Executive Vice-President. Dale is active in the community serving on the Board of Directors for MultiCare Health System and as Vice Chair of the Regional Advisory Board for Good Samaritan Hospital. He deeply appreciates Charles Wright's faculty and the nurturing culture they create on campus. He appreciates being on campus whenever possible with the end of year school events being particularly enjoyable, including the fifth grade Moving On ceremony, eighth grade graduation, and Upper School commencement.
MJ (Allen) Stackpole graduated from CWA in 1978. “As an alum, I am very interested in giving back to Charles Wright and supporting the school,” she says. MJ joined the Board of Trustees in 2010. She is a first grade teacher at Evergreen Primary in the University Place School District. She graduated of Whittier College and earned her Master’s degree at City University.
MJ is very active in the community. She has served on the boards of Tacoma Actors Guild, Children’s Museum, Junior League and Tacoma Farmer’s Market, as well as the Activities Council of the Tacoma Arts Museum. She enjoys tennis, skiing, and other outdoor pursuits.
Sarah Weyerhaeuser’s favorite moment in CWA history was the school-wide excitement over voting for the Tarriers in the school’s first KIRO-7 Game of the Week competition in September of 2008. “We are a pre-k through 12th grade school where all students feel a vested interest in the success of other students at the school, not just their ‘age-mates,’” says Sarah.
As the wife of an alum (David ’77) and mother of three alums (Kaylee ’07, Jake ’09 and Natalie ’11), Sarah has spent a lot of time on campus and attends many athletic events. She also volunteers with several community organizations and has served on the boards of Point Defiance Zoo, Tacoma Youth Chorus and Multicare Foundation. She is currently an advisory board member for the University of Washington-Tacoma. She graduated from Williams College with a bachelor’s degree in math and political science and worked as a high school math teacher. She is the vice-chair of the board.
Dwight Williams, the board chair, believes Charles Wright’s sense of community is what makes this school unique. His son Andrew ’06 graduated from CWA and his daughter Rachel ’11 was a CWA “Lifer”.
Dwight is Regional Counsel for the Northwest Mountain Region of the Federal Aviation Administration. He recently retired as the State Judge Advocate for the Washington National Guard at the rank of colonel. He holds degrees from Washington and Jefferson College and Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He lives in Lakewood and one of his hobbies is paying tuition bills.
