The Board is excited to announce that Riley Acheson, a sophomore from Cashmere High School, has been selected to serve as the Board’s next student board member. Acheson succeeded current student representative Cástulo González, a graduating senior at Capital High School in Olympia, who completed his term on the Board at the end of June. 

After she was selected, we took a moment to ask Riley a few questions.

Why did you decide to apply for a position on the Board? 

I applied for this position because I want to have a direct impact on students. It is my goal to serve and represent my generation of students.  

Now that you’ve been selected, what are some things that you’re excited to work on and/or advocate for? 

Now that I have been selected, I am excited to advocate for an education that works for everyone. All students deserve access to learning system that meets their needs, desires, and goals.  

What are a few extracurricular activities or hobbies you enjoy doing? 

A couple extracurriculars I am involved in is DECA, coaching Drill Team at my middle school and high school, and being a camp counselor at Camas Meadows Bible Camp.  

What are your favorite subjects/things to study in school? 

My favorite subject is English. Since I was young, I loved writing, reading, and history. Despite my passion for language arts, my favorite class is UW Astronomy 101. 

The State Board of Education had a jam-packed agenda for its June 24-26 meeting at the Chehalis Tribal Community Center.

During the meeting, the Board received updates on the FutureReady initiative and held conversations with community liaisons to help shape the Board’s 2026 legislative platform. Members also reviewed a draft of the High School & Beyond Plan report, approved 536 private schools for the 2025–26 school year, and honored outgoing student member Cástulo González with a blanket ceremony for his service and advocacy. Read out newest recap email to learn more! 

The Board has hired Gail Wootan as Director of System Health & Compliance. In this role, Gail will be responsible for managing the Board’s work related to basic education compliance. 

What inspired you to work for the State Board and what excites you most about your new role? 

I believe that a quality K-12 education should be accessible and meaningful to all Washingtonians, and that it should prepare our youngest residents to engage in their communities and to solve society’s challenges. I am inspired by the fact that the Board intentionally centers educational equity in its work because dismantling centuries of systemic oppression in our educational systems is needed to equitably serve all students. I am excited to help in this work by serving as the agency’s “data geek” who will report on the effectiveness of the Board’s key areas of work.  

How do you hope to make a difference for the communities and people we serve? 

I hope to use my analytical skills to identify gaps and offer equity-focused recommendations and solutions to support the Board’s mission. 

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Do you have any hobbies or interests you’re passionate about? 

My one true love is reading, and to balance all that sitting still, I stay active through biking (I have 5 bikes!) and playing soccer year-round. I grew up in the Oregon woods and I keep that connection through hiking – I live in Olympia, so I spend a lot of time on the Olympic Peninsula and Hood Canal. I also love to travel and have been to all seven continents.