Five New Members Join the Board of Trustees for 2026-27

We are pleased to welcome five new trustees who began their service in July. With their addition, and two trustees completing their terms, more than 50 percent of our current Board has joined in the past two years, growing to a robust 21 members. Each brings valuable expertise, perspective, and deep commitment to CWA's mission. 

Jamel Bland (P '31)

Jamel is a Senior Manager at Blue Origin, where he has spent the past four years leading teams through complex engineering challenges — from clean sheet designs through the full lifecycle of a system. He holds a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle and a Master’s in Engineering Management from Tufts, building a career spanning two decades in aerospace, beginning with work on the Space Shuttle. He grew up in a neighborhood in Trinidad and Tobago called Gonzales, raised by a single mother whose resilience and belief in education and character shaped who he is today.

Washington State has been home for four years, where he and his wife Priscilla, married 21 years, are raising two sons — Noah, in 11th grade at Curtis High School, and Levi, in 9th grade at Charles Wright. Outside of work, he’s a landscape photographer and avid hiker, and recently joined Outdoor Afro, connecting people of color with the outdoors. He’s drawn to CWA’s board by his belief in what intentional schools can do to help every student thrive.

“Any opportunity I get to be of service to the community, especially at CWA, where we are all striving to give our kids the
best opportunities to reach their fullest potential, is time well spent.”

Todd Blodgett (P '32, '34, '37)

Todd has three children at CWA — Hazel ‘32, Wesley ‘34, and William ‘37. He is a Trusts and Estate Attorney and Partner at Eisenhower Carlson in Tacoma, with broad experience in
estate planning, nonprofit governance, charitable giving, and general counsel.

He serves on the Board and Governance Committee of the American Leadership Forum
of Tacoma/Pierce County, and is the past Board Chair of the South Sound Planned Giving Council and Friends of the Children-Tacoma. He received his degrees from Whitman
College and Harvard Law School. For the past year, Todd has served on the CWA Strategic Planning Committee and is excited to give back more to the school as a trustee.

“As a parent, I’ve seen how CWA helps its students feel known, challenged and supported. Serving on the Board of Trustees is a chance to give back to a community that means a great deal to my family and to help ensure that future students have the same opportunity to thrive.”

Dana Flaskerud (P '20, '22)

Dana has been a student, teacher, and leader for as long as she can remember, often all three at once. After earning her BA in Spanish from the University of Washington and a
PhD from Columbia, she and her husband returned to the Pacific Northwest, settling in Gig Harbor. She taught Spanish at Charles Wright for 15 years, often feeling more like the student than the teacher as she grew alongside her students — in the classroom, on trails and kayaks, and through international travel.

Her sons, Hayden ’20 and Liam ’22, embraced every opportunity CWA offered. Though she stepped away from full-time teaching in 2022, Dana remains closely connected, substitute teaching regularly and recently chaperoning a Winterim trip to Spain. What draws her back is CWA’s dedication to nurturing its community at every age.

“As a former Upper School teacher and parent, I’ve experienced the tremendous impact Charles Wright has had on my family and I, shaping the way we approach life’s joys and challenges. I’m incredibly grateful for all that CWA has given us and honored to serve the school in a new capacity. I look forward to supporting its mission, values, and extraordinary opportunities while helping ensure the Charles Wright experience continues to transform current and future Tarriers!”

Tereasa Gandhi (P '29)

Tereasa researched and evaluated non-US and emerging markets equity managers for more than 20 years with Russell Investment Group, where she also managed several US equity
Fund of Funds and advised clients on institutional investment positioning. During her tenure, she took a two-year leave to serve in the Peace Corps’ small business development
program in Romania.

Since 2013, Tereasa has been a stay-at-home parent deeply engaged in community service, serving two terms on the Board of Prison Pet Partnership (2015–2021) and two terms on
the Board of Tacoma Youth Chorus (2019–2025), including as Treasurer. Tereasa is a CWA parent with a student graduating in 2029, and has served on the CWA Endowment Committee since 2018.

“I am honored to serve as a trustee and to support the students, faculty, and families who make Charles Wright Academy special. Watching my daughter grow—from her first day in Mrs. Burdick’s kindergarten class to the student she is today—has shown me how meaningful a caring, mission-driven school community can be.”

Hayden Taylor '05 (P '37, '40)

Hayden grew up in North Tacoma and attended the Upper School at CWA, building strong study habits, playing varsity tennis, and forming lifelong friendships. He went on to earn a
degree in Mechanical Engineering from USC, then attended the University of Washington School of Law. His legal practice evolved from employee benefits to estate planning; he joined
Eisenhower Carlson in 2021, made partner in 2023, and now leads the firm’s estate planning practice group.

He lives in University Place with his wife Hala ’02 (also a Tarrier) and their two children, Olivia ’37 and Robbie ’40, both current CWA students. Hayden spent 9 years on the board of the Foss Waterway Seaport, serving as Secretary and chair of the Governance Committee, and is eager to support CWA’s mission as a trustee.

“Serving on the CWA Board of Trustees provides me with the opportunity to give back to the institution that played such an
important role in my own upbringing, while helping shape the experience of the next generation of Tarriers—including my
own children. It is both an honor and a privilege to serve this remarkable school and community.”