Jennifer Karls

Co-Founder and Director

Jennifer understands the critical importance of equitable access to our education, employment, and health care systems grounded in her experiences as a parent and advocate. She is committed to the work of ensuring that these systems are inclusive, equitable, and accessible. She also understands the necessity of family and community engagement in co-designing systems to meet the needs of all community members.
 
Jennifer has been active in creating opportunities for families to connect and increase their understanding of our education systems. She was a co-founder of the Bellevue Special Needs PTA and grassroots coalition, SEL for Washington, which focused on advocating for the education of the whole child, including social and emotional learning.
 
In addition to her B.A. in Business Management, Jennifer completed a two-year Adaptive Community Leadership program and continues to practice the principles of ACL through the work of Roots of Inclusion. She is also a certified Gracious Space practitioner. Before working in the non-profit sector, Jennifer worked in the public sector in the semiconductor industry. 
 
She has served on the Board of Directors for several non-profit organizations, including multiple Bellevue Washington School District-based PTA’s, Leadership Eastside, Arc of King County, and is a founding Board member of the Immigrant Women’s Community Center. She has also volunteered in the City of Redmond, WA. Police Department’s Community Equity Action Team, City of Bellevue, WA. Diversity Advisory Network, Washington State Paraeducator Workgroup, and multiple Bellevue Washington School District community committees since 2010.
 
In her free time, she loves spending time with her children and husband. They enjoy traveling together and exploring new places, especially beaches on the Pacific Coast.
 
Jennifer is committed to continuous learning and understanding how systems impact individuals. She believes that through working with community partners, we build an inclusive society where every individual has access, is valued, and belongs.
 
You can reach Jennifer at [email protected]
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Sarah Butcher

Co-Founder and Director

Sarah understands and values the importance of an equitable, accessible, and inclusive education system intentionally designed to support each student to flourish. With a keen ability to identify opportunities and connections across systems, she leverages relationship building, advocacy, and policy initiatives to improve outcomes for young people with disabilities. Sarah is deeply committed to ensuring those most impacted by a system are centered in the design process for understanding and improving it. 

Sarah Co-Founded the SEL for Washington statewide coalition and continues to lead advocacy and organizing for Social Emotional Learning in schools to ensure each student is supported in their academic, social, and emotional growth. She serves on multiple state level workgroups, coalitions, and projects connected to improving student outcomes by evolving systems to be more equitable, inclusive, and supportive of the whole child. 

Previously, Sarah was the co-chair of the Washington State SEL Advisory Committee and the Vice-Chair of the Washington State Special Education Advisory Council. She has served on the boards of several organizations, including The True Measure Collaborative, The League of Education Voters, The Bellevue PTSA Council, and The Bellevue Special Needs PTA. 

In 2014, Sarah was honored as a ParentMap Superhero and as the Washington State PTA Advocate of the Year recognizing her advocacy work on Social Emotional Learning and for students with disabilities. 

Before devoting her energy and expertise to making Washington’s education systems equitable and inclusive, Sarah was a junior broker at Wells Fargo Institutional Investments. Sarah holds a Graduate Certificate in Adaptive Community Leadership from Saybrook University. In her free time, Sarah enjoys exploring local running trails, cooking, and embarking on new adventures with her husband, three children, and two dogs.

You can reach Sarah at [email protected]

Cynthia Blasko

Director

Cynthia is a dedicated advocate, trainer, and coach supporting inclusive education for students with complex communication needs. With a background as a physician assistant, Cynthia has worked with public school districts since 2012 to ensure that children who type to communicate receive the support they need.

She has collaborated with educators in Montgomery County, Maryland, and Bellevue, Washington, providing training, coaching, and advocacy across elementary, middle, and high school settings. In addition to her work in schools, Cynthia presents at local and national workshops and conferences. She is also the co-founder of Connections through Communication, a social forum that brought together typers, families, educators, and therapists across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas.

You can reach Cynthia at C​[email protected]