Board of Trustees
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Emily
Emily Guildner has served on the Snohomish Education Foundation Board of Trustees since 2022 and was elected Chair of the Board in 2025. A lifelong Snohomish resident, Emily is passionate about giving back to the community that raised her and supporting public education at every level.
Outside of her work with SEF, Emily is one of the Managing Partners at Thompson, Guildner & Associates, Inc., P.S., where she practices law with a focus on real estate, land use, contract disputes, estate planning, and municipal law. She provides legal counsel to several Washington cities and brings a strong background in public service and legal strategy to her leadership at SEF.
Emily also mentors future legal professionals through the Washington State Bar Association’s Law Clerk Program. Her commitment to service, education, and the Snohomish community drives her work on the Foundation’s board.
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.
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.
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
Sarah Adams
Sarah brings over 15 years of experience in social services and community mental health to the
board. As a former Snohomish School Board director, she has a deep understanding of the local
education system and a longstanding commitment to supporting the well-being of students and
families. Currently, she serves as a clinical director at a community mental health agency, where
she leads efforts to provide critical services and support to individuals facing mental health
challenges. In addition to her professional experience, Sarah is a dedicated volunteer at Cathcart Elementary,
where her two children attend. Her active involvement in the school community reflects her
passion for education and her belief in the power of a strong, supportive learning environment.
With her expertise in mental health, social services, and community leadership, Sarah wanted to
join the SEF board to work towards enhancing educational opportunities and promoting the
success of every student in the Snohomish School District.
Dana Schrader
Dustin Birashk
Dustin has been in public accounting since 1999 and specializes in serving financial institutions and financial services organizations, including community banks, credit unions, thrifts, mutual banks, SEC banks, mortgage banking companies, not-for-profit financial services organizations, and bridge financing companies.
Kim
Don
Don Waller brings a deep commitment to service and community to the Snohomish Education Foundation. With a long career in fire service, including his current role as Fire Chief, Don has developed strong leadership, negotiation, and public policy expertise. His background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Washington State University, a Master’s in Health Policy and Administration, and a Chief Fire Officer designation from Center for Public
Excellence. Beyond his professional achievements, he is passionate about building strong communities and ensuring students have the resources they need to succeed.
As a board member, Don is dedicated to supporting the Foundation’s mission of enhancing educational opportunities for Snohomish students. Married with two teenagers, he values the importance of education and the impact it has on future generations. He brings valuable experience in leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement. In his free time, he enjoys woodworking, camping, rollercoasters, and exploring national parks with his family.
Todd
Commitment, honesty and trustworthy are words that Todd Lipke takes to heart. His integrity and core values shine through in everything he does. Family, friends and small-town values have greatly influenced Todd Lipke. He’s proud to be a part of Snohomish traditions and thrilled that his children have followed in his footsteps and have graduated from his alma mater. Todd Lipke is a long-time resident of Snohomish where he resides with his wife and raised their three children. He enjoys spending his free time with family and friends and cheering on the Seattle Mariners and Seahawks. Todd Lipke is passionate about community involvement and has enjoyed sharing his passion for sports with local youth as a coach for more than 15 years.
