Board of Trustees
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Barbara Nowak
Barbara’s passion for education is well-suited to support the Snohomish Education Foundation where she currently serves as a board member. She has three children, two of whom are in the Snohomish School District and serves in many roles throughout the district such as an officer of a booster club. She has seen the great impact that teachers in the distract have on students of all educational and emotional levels and feels honored to serve both students and teachers in her role as a board member at SEF.
She holds a B.A. in Communication from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communications with a minor in Political Science and is currently earning her master’s degree in Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology with an emphasis on adult learning.
Dawn Ipsen
Dawn Ipsen believes strength in education of all levels leads to strong, healthy, and prosperous communities. It is because of the Snohomish School District’s reputation and the tangible work of the Snohomish Education Foundation that she and her husband chose to live in this community and raise their wonderful family here. They saw early on how community support can further enhance education and opportunities in youth. Furthermore, Dawn is connected to the Snohomish community as the local pharmacist and owner of Kusler’s Compounding Pharmacy. Her personal mission is supporting a healthy community however that path might lead. Dawn is honored to serve as a board member of the Snohomish Education Foundation. She looks forward to contributing towards the SEF mission of elevating opportunities and possibilities for Snohomish School District students.
Jen Bogdan
Jen Bogdan started Valley View as a 7th grader when her family moved from Hawaii to the Snohomish area in 1994. She graduated from Snohomish High School in 2000 and EVCC in 2005. After college, Jen married and started a family. Jen and her husband and have 4 children, 3 of whom are currently attending school in the Snohomish School District and the eldest graduated from Glacier Peak in 2023.
Jen owns and operates a successful landscaping business and understands the importance of balancing business and family. She has also coached all four of her kids in various sports. She and her husband believe in the importance of education, athletics and faith, all of which contribute to building character, developing life skills, and promoting a healthy lifestyle. The Snohomish School District offers a fabulous environment for raising a family with these values and the SEF has been a wonderful place to plug in and get more involved in their children’s education. Jen believes that the variety of expertise that comes together on this board can make a better school district and have a huge impact on the lives of many.
Kay Ditzenberger
Kay Ditzenberger is honored to be part of the Snohomish Education Foundation. She believes education is everything and that it builds strong people, families, communities, and nations. Kay is deeply committed to supporting the foundation’s quest to help the Snohomish School District, its teachers, staff, educators, students, and families succeed in providing outstanding educational opportunities for all.
Kay arrived in Snohomish in 2008, and her family began to experience a place where service and kindness were the norm. She believes Snohomish is a gem! Community involvement and service were a natural consequence of the kind hearts of its people. This generous and warm-hearted community has deeply touched her family. Kay says, “If I can give back just a portion of what our family has received from this community, my wish will have been fulfilled.”
Kay is a retired pharmaceutical representative. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Colorado, an MBA from Northwest University, and a PhD in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga. Kay loves to learn and hopes to continue to do so for the rest of her life, helping others become lifelong learners.
Marilyn Leon
Marilyn Leon has been a resident of the Snohomish area for over 35 years. She has 3 daughters who all went through the Snohomish School District and graduated from Snohomish High School. Marilyn’s background is in banking, and she has worked in the Snohomish area for her whole career.
Marilyn joined the SEF board after experiencing the foundation through the sponsorship side throughout her career. She knew she wanted to be a part of the great things SEF does for students in the Snohomish School District. Snohomish is all encompassing community, and the foundation is a big part of this community. Marilyn is thrilled to be a part of such a great organization and serve the Snohomish community.
Keely Reinhard
Keely Reinhard is a former teacher and believes education is a priority. She joined the SEF board in 2012 when she was looking for volunteer opportunities and the mission of the SEF spoke to her. The partnership that SEF shares with Snohomish Schools and this community’s support of Education makes Snohomish a great place to live and raise a family! Keely and her family moved from Oregon to Snohomish in 1994 and have loved being part of the Snohomish community. She has been married to her husband Matt for 42 years, they have three sons, three daughters-in-law and 5 grandchildren. It is also her honor to volunteer with the American Red Cross, serving on the local board and the National Philanthropic Board. Keely’s hobbies include knitting, traveling, playing cards, water sports and fly-fishing.
Robin Stefanson
Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Robin and her husband, Keith, have made Snohomish their home since 2002. They have 2 grown children that both attended Snohomish schools, graduating from Glacier Peak High School.
From volunteering in the schools, Robin saw firsthand how SEF helped support enrichment and enhanced student experiences. A desire to ensure there are support and growth opportunities for all Snohomish students led her to become involved with SEF. Robin joined the board in 2013 and currently chairs our Scholarship committee.
Sam Janke
Sam Janke has called Snohomish home since 2010 after he and his wife both finished 40 years of teaching. Due to their love and dedication to the profession they have continued to be guest teachers in the Snohomish School District, allowing them to get to know their new home. As a high school biology teacher Sam was able to also enjoy being an assistant football coach for 20 years and a head basketball coach for 32 years.
As an SEF board member for the past 3 years Sam has enjoyed serving on the Auction Committee as well as chairing the Classroom Grants Committee this past year. Sam says it is gratifying to see how supportive this community continues to be and how valuable the Foundation is to the support of the students in the Snohomish School District.
Steve Thomas
Strong schools are the gateway to a strong community. Steve became involved in SEF in 1996 because he believed education is truly the key to helping students become productive citizens. All of the Foundation’s programs help to enrich the lives of students, “one student at a time… one gift at a time.” Imagine how much more we can do with your help. Steve is currently involved in the Classroom Grant program which supports innovative and creative ideas in the classroom that expand opportunities for students in all of the schools in grades K-12. Steve attended Washington State University and graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1972. He currently owns a law practice in Snohomish.