Jane Aras

About Jane Aras

In my 27 years of supporting our community in education, I have taught both general and special education, including at Title 1 schools, worked with advanced learners, and mentored students in STEM. To broaden my impact, I have collaborated with elected officials, non-profits, unions, PTSA and other school district committees, business and technology leaders, media, and other influencers.My diverse background allows me to understand a wide array of perspectives, providing a realistic grasp of complex problems and enabling me to find innovative solutions. These experiences have equipped me with the skills and confidence to work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders at all levels to achieve results.I am passionate about making high-quality education equitable and accessible to all students, with a focus on historically marginalized communities and special needs students.

Experience

1. School Board Director

   Bellevue School District

   Dec 2021 — Present · Bellevue, WA, US

   School board accomplishments:• BSD Board Named 2023 Board of Distinction by the Washington State School Directors’ Association - https://tinyurl.com/BSD-WSSDA• Updated the school district’s mission, vision, and value statements to address the changing demographics of our student population and get our students ready for globalization.• To be more effective at all levels, from the classroom to administration, revised our equity policy and added relevant metrics and cadence for the board to monitor compliance.• Overhauled the special education policy to not only bring it up to current legal standards but to strive for excellence to meet BSD mission of \'equitable and exceptional education for all students.\'• Recommended and approved the implementation of proactive safety and security procedures and the allocation of additional budget for counselors and mental health support specialists.• Hired a new superintendent – engaged an executive search firm, managed community involvement, interviewed candidates, made hiring decision, set compensation package, and negotiated offer.• Managing the superintendent’s ongoing performance based on measurable KPIs tied to compensation incentives, monthly check-ins, and bi-annual full performance reviews. • Appointed a replacement board director – developed fair and equitable appointment process, maintained transparency, interviewed candidates, and appointed director in a public vote.• Improved the budget approval process by working with finance early in the process to review projections for enrollment, revenue, costs, and prioritized allocation to maximize student success.

Education

• Bellevue College Continuing Education

  Courses in Computer Science and Project Management

• Gonzaga University

  Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Special Education and Teaching; Endorsement in Psychology

  1998

• University of Washington

  Master of Education (M.Ed.), Special Education in moderate to severe and profound disabilities

  2001