We co-create just and humanizing educational communities where every student thrives and succeeds, benefiting future generations. 

  • Award
Maryan Abdow selected as the PSESD Regional Classified School Employee of the Year
Maryan Abdow


Maryan Abdow, who is the Quality Engagement Specialist for Secondary Education at Foster High School and Showalter Middle School in the Tukwila School District, has been selected as the PSESD Regional Classified School Employee of the Year!

The Classified School Employee of the Year is a yearly award that recognizes a classified employee from the PSESD region who will then go on to represent PSESD in the state Classified School Employee of the Year selection process. They then become the Washington nominee for the US Department of Education’s national Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) award.

Supporting Students and Families

In her role as Quality Engagement Specialist for Secondary Education, Maryan works closely with students and families participating in the McKinney-Vento program, which supports students experiencing homelessness. She has led multiple innovative projects that promoted inclusivity, strengthened community partnerships, and directly supported students and families. Through these opportunities she collaborated with colleagues from various schools, engaged community partners, and addressed district policy to enact change.

Maryan is a dedicated advocate for students and families, with over a decade of experience working to remove barriers for youth experiencing homelessness, foster care, or economic hardship. As Somali-American, Maryan brings a deeply personal understanding of the challenges many families face when navigating new systems and environments. Her career began with Catholic Community Services, where she supported homeless youth, which quickly evolved into a calling to serve students within the school system. In her current role as McKinney-Vento and Foster Care Liaison, she connects families to essential resources and helps students succeed academically and beyond.

Her work focuses on secondary students, mentoring youth from diverse backgrounds, and guiding unaccompanied youth toward graduation and stability. She partners with organizations such as SchoolHouse Connections, the Road Map Project for Family Engagement, and Building Changes. She has led trainings on McKinney-Vento data practices and the importance of school-community collaboration. Maryan also organizes district-wide events to ensure basic needs and educational needs are met, assists students and families with post-secondary preparation, and works to secure funding to strengthen the district’s McKinney-Vento programming.

In addition to her school-based work, Maryan Abdow serves as a Commissioner on the City of Tukwila’s Equity and Social Justice Commission and leads the district’s Parent Advisory Committee. Her leadership continues to uplift family voices, create inclusive spaces, and ensure representation in education. Maryan is honored to serve her community and remains committed to building a future where every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive.

Congratulations to Maryan!

PSESD News Banner

Archive

A smiling teacher in a burka assists two child students with a painting project in class.

Family engagement is one of the central tenets of Educare Seattle's work. It's one of the things that sets the program apart—a “whole child” approach that allows learning to extend beyond the classroom, bringing families and staff together to build community.

That approach was on full display earlier this month at Educare Seattle's first STEAM Night, which took place on March 26th, 2026. STEAM learning stands for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, and is designed to foster creativity and problem-solving skills in young learners.

Read More about Educare Seattle's STEAM Night Brings Families Together Around Learning
Young students sit at keyboards in class

Each year, the Washington State Board of Education's Washington School Recognition Program highlights schools that demonstrate exceptional progress in key areas of student success. 

They have now announced those schools that are being recognized by the Washington School Recognition Program for performance during the 2024-2025 school year, and this year, 163 schools in the PSESD school districts were recognized, out of a total of 379 public schools recognized in 150 school districts across the state of Washington. 

Read More about PSESD Celebrates 28 School Districts Recognized for Growth by Washington State!
A visual group of student art pieces including a painted portrait, an abstract, a textile dress with flowers, and a surreal painting

Here at PSESD, we're excited to celebrate the incredible talent of our young artists participating in the 2026 Regional Superintendent High School Art Show!

Each year, this show reminds us of the depth and power of student creativity. Through both their artwork and their personal reflections, these students share stories filled with emotion, insight, and courage.

As the 2026 Art Show unfolds, we invite you to recognize and honor these remarkable students for generously sharing their creativity and vision with us.
 

Read More about Announcing the Winners of the 2026 Regional Superintendent High School Art Show!
A smiling woman with flowers stands among a smiling group.

The PSESD Board of Directors was delighted to meet Maryan Abdow, the 2025 Classified School Employee of the Year, who visited the Board on April 22, 2026. Maryan was introduced to the Board by Amber McCulloch, the Senior Director of Learning, Teaching, and Family Support at PSESD, and who runs the Teacher of the Year and Classified School Employee of the Year programs.
 

Read More about Maryan Abdow Honored by PSESD Board of Directors
Smiling schoolchildren next to a school bus

When districts need to understand their financial health but can’t afford expensive data visualization tools, they’re at a disadvantage. Joli Valentino, PSESD’s executive director of business and operations, envisioned a fiscal dashboard that would serve all districts. Under her leadership and the direction of Justin Lanting, director of school finance, a team spanning four educational service districts — PSESD, ESD 113, ESD 114, and ESD 171 — built a free, interactive fiscal dashboard using data from OSPI.

Read More about Making School Finance Data Work for Everyone
A smiling woman holds flowers in the middle of three people posing for an award photo.

Puyallup School District has announced their 2026 Celebrating Excellence Award recipients.

Now in its fourth year, the Celebrating Excellence awards program honors and recognizes staff, volunteers, and community partners for their outstanding work and unwavering commitment to excellence in supporting the success of students and schools within the Puyallup School District. This annual program serves as a testament to the remarkable dedication and contributions of those who go above and beyond in fostering a thriving educational community.

Read More about Puyallup School District Announces the 2026 Celebrating Excellence Award Recipients