LWPTSA Council was pleased to host nearly 180 guests at our annual Founders’ Day Luncheon on Friday, Feb. 26, 2026, at McMenamins, as we honored the spirit of PTA and the legacy of our PTA founders. Our luncheon guests enjoyed inspirational words from esteemed speakers, including LWPTSA Council Co-President Brooke Gialopsos, Anastasia Kanakasabesan (Hihtoo). [View our event photo gallery]
In addition, we hope our guests were entertained and energized by the live musical performance of Shira Mahesh Sridharan on guitar with vocals and Matthew Choi for his Literature work on interpretation of this year’s Reflections theme. Thank you, Shira Mahesh Sridharan, for sharing your electrifying musical composition with us all and Matthew Choi, for reading your beautiful poem to us. As promised, we are sharing the videos of our student artists. We thank all 5 of these students for sharing their talents with us [Founders’ Day Student Artist Performances]
Anastasia delivered a powerful and moving speech that captured the essence of this year’s PTA Reflections theme, “I Belong.” [Read about Anastasia’s keynote address]
The celebration culminated in our LWPTSA Council Awards presentation. This year’s pool of nominations was among the largest Council has had the honor of considering. As a result, after a great deal of careful and thoughtful deliberation, our Awards Committee was delighted to honor 5 incredibly worthy award recipients across four categories. [View our complete list of award winners both past and present]
Council extends our warmest thanks and gratitude to all of our luncheon guests and everyone who submitted award nominations, and we congratulate all of our 2026 award winners, whom you can read about below.
Colleen McCloskey – Honorary Life Membership
Colleen embodies what an Honorary Life Membership award represents. Her impact spans Peter Kirk Elementary, the Lake Washington PTSA Council, and even the state level. And in every space she serves, she brings the same qualities: deep knowledge, unwavering integrity, and an unshakable focus on what is best for all students.
At Peter Kirk Elementary, Colleen is the person who steps in wherever there is a need. As Secretary, Yearbook Chair, Gallery Walk Chair, Spirit Wear Chair, Reflections Co-Chair, Marathon Chair, and former Director of Fundraising, she has supported nearly every major initiative. She doesn’t just run programs—she improves them. She championed redesigning the Marathon program using inclusive design principles so students of all abilities could participate meaningfully. She ensured physical access improvements were made, created adaptive options, and expanded recognition so every milestone was celebrated.
As Yearbook Chair, she champions equitable representation. She builds systems so every student is included—not just those whose families can submit photos. When gaps appear, she personally fills them. To her, belonging is not an abstract value—it is something you build intentionally.
Beyond the local level, Colleen is involved at council and state. Colleen serves as Co-President of the Lake Washington PTSA Council, while also stepping in as Acting VP of Communications and Newsletter Editor to ensure continuity and stability. She strengthens infrastructure, improves technology systems, creates templates and guides for future leaders, and ensures smooth transitions so the work continues year after year. That is sustainability in action. She serves on committees, judges scholarships, and supports leadership development. Her knowledge of policy and process is extraordinary—but what makes her truly exceptional is how she uses that knowledge to mentor others, solve problems, and protect the integrity of our organization.
When local units face conflict or crisis, Colleen steps forward with professionalism, empathy, and clarity. She leads with principle. She listens carefully. She works tirelessly—often late into the night—to stabilize, guide, and support. Her leadership preserves trust and strengthens communities.
Colleen is the person leaders call when something is broken, stuck, or at risk. She is steady. She is strategic. She is compassionate. And above all, she is committed to ensuring every child—across every school—has access, safety, opportunity, and belonging.
Her service is sustained. It is systemic. It is transformative.
For her extraordinary dedication, her institutional leadership, and her unwavering belief in strong schools and inclusive communities, Colleen is more than deserving of this recognition.
Thank you, Colleen, for everything you do—quietly, tirelessly, and wholeheartedly—for all of our children.
You have truly earned the Honorary Life Membership Award
Nomita Yadav – Outstanding Service Award
Nomita Yadav’s impact has been felt through out the district, making her the epitome of the a outstanding service award winner.
Currently, Nomita serves as Vice President of Programs at the Tesla STEM PTSA.
Nomita has made a huge impression not only with Tesla STEM but across the district.
Nomita has played a key role in arranging informative and impactful presentations by inviting high-profile speakers to Tesla STEM. She has also organized college information sessions and exam practice opportunities. She provides all of these growth opportunities with all LWSD high school students in mind. It’s easy to become insular and only focus on the students that a PTSA specifically supports. However, Nomita has made a priority of inviting ALL LWSD high school students to be a part of these programs. You’ve probably seen these events shared through Council’s Weekly Waves and Peachjar. Her commitment to involve students through the district highlights her vision for the future and her desire to prepare our high school graduates for their best possible future. This vision makes her an obvious choice for this award
If providing these events isn’t enough, her local PTSA team members speak about her ability to recruit new volunteers, ensuring a legacy of community, caring and strength.
Her significant contribution to Tesla STEM’s fundraising efforts and her work on senior celebration planning, all demonstrate that her impact extends beyond her specific PTSA role.
Finally, her consistent involvement, professionalism, and commitment as a volunteer means that not only has she been impactful while being a PTSA member, but that she is focused on leaving a lasting positive impact on students, families, and schools throughout the district.
Congratulations, Nomita Yadav.
We are proud to recognize you with the Award for Outstanding Service.
Morgan Sampson – Outstanding Advocate
For many years, Morgan Sampson has been a dedicated leader at Horace Mann Elementary, serving as Advocacy Chair and elevating the voice of students and families. But her impact has not stopped at the local level. At the most recent WSPTA Legislative Assembly, she didn’t simply attend—she led. She built connections, collaborated on amendment language, and worked tirelessly to advocate for positions that benefit all students across our district and state. She understands that advocacy is not passive; it is active, thoughtful, and persistent.
This year marks her sixth year helping with the Book Fair at Mann. In that role, she has championed inclusivity, ensuring every child feels welcome and represented. Her commitment to turning advocacy into action was especially evident in the powerful Disability Awareness display she organized—an effort so meaningful it earned a WSPTA Spotlight Award. She also organized the walking bus to scho on ol to promote student safety and community health.
Beyond Mann, Morgan serves as DEIB Chair for the Lake Washington PTSA Council, where her leadership is both strategic and hands-on. Her generosity even extends to other schools in the district, such as when she traveled to Peter Kirk Elementary to help organize their Emergency Preparedness closet. Whether she is traveling to Olympia to advocate for K-12 funding or coordinating a 120-book donation for a neighboring school, Morgan is always looking for ways to support the whole community.
Morgan is that rare volunteer who can navigate legislative advocacy at the highest levels while still rolling up her sleeves for the everyday work that makes schools thrive. Her service is thoughtful, inclusive, and deeply rooted in the belief that every student deserves to feel seen, supported, and valued.
For her years of dedication, her collaborative spirit, and her unwavering commitment to inclusion, Morgan is truly deserving of this recognition.
Thank you, Morgan Sampson, for the extraordinary difference you make and congratulations again, for earning the Outstanding Advocate Award. We look forward to a future where you continue to impact our community.
Marcela Valdes – Outstanding Service Award
For more than eight years, Marcela Valdes has been the heart and soul of Einstein PTSA. She hasn’t just held one or two roles—she has served in nearly every capacity imaginable: Communications, Family Events, Yearbook, Advocacy, Art Docent, Staff Appreciation, Pantry Packs, Reflections, Field Day, Fun Run, Website, and so much more. And in every single role, she has led with care, creativity, and unwavering dedication.
Marcela is always the first to step up and the last to step away. She answers emails late at night, translates materials to ensure every family feels included, mentors new board members so they feel confident and capable, and somehow still finds time to set up before events and clean up after. She makes the impossible look easy.
Her leadership of Multicultural Night and the introduction of Spanish-inclusive events like Fiesta have strengthened the sense VAlde of belonging at Einstein’s elementary. She builds bridges—between families, between staff and parents, and between cultures. She ensures that everyone feels seen, valued, and welcome.
But what truly sets Marcela apart is her heart. She leads with kindness. She gives generously of her time. She notices when someone needs support and quietly steps in. She inspires others not just by what she does, but by how she does it—with grace, integrity, and a genuine love for our school.
Marcela Valdes has made Einstein better than she found it. Her impact is lasting, immeasurable, and woven into the fabric of our community.
There is no one more deserving of this council-level recognition.
Marcela Valdes, thank you for everything you have given to our school. We are stronger because of you, and we are endlessly grateful.
Kelly Williams – Outstanding Educator
When people ask what Kelly Williams does at Emily Dickinson Elementary, the official answer is simple: Librarian.
But we all know that title barely scratches the surface.
Kelly is the heart, the soul, and the steady head of Dickinson Elementary. She is the person so many of students, staff, and parents turn to. She spreads joy everywhere she goes, and it seems that anything good happening at Dickinson has Kelly’s fingerprints all over it.
Yes, she runs the library. But she also leads Wetlands Week each year. She facilitates leadership clubs. She organizes assemblies. She runs March Madness reading competitions, coordinates fundraisers, plans the school dance, leads the Green Team and sustainability efforts, and somehow even finds time to help improve lunchroom behavior. And that’s still not the full list.
What makes Kelly extraordinary isn’t just how much she does — it’s how she does it. Her fans (students, teachers and parents) describe her as being everywhere at once, yet when you’re with her, you feel like you have her complete, undivided attention.
One student shared that if she’s having a bad day, she stops by the library for a “Kelly pick-me-up.” And she’s not alone. Multiple parents have shared that Kelly is the reason their children want to come to school — because she makes them feel seen, heard, protected, and special.
Kelly understands something fundamental: academic excellence begins with belonging. When children feel valued and included, they thrive. And Kelly creates that feeling for countless students every single day.
Her impact on this school community is immeasurable. She has shaped not just programs and events, but people — students, staff, and families alike.
Dickinson is better because of Kelly Williams.
We congratulate Kelly Williams and are proud to recognize her as LWPTSA’s Outstanding Educator for 2025-2026.