Community Truancy Boards and improved attendance and school engagement
May 10, 2021
Matt Gillingham of Lake Washington School District
Community Truancy Boards and improved attendance and school engagement
Associate Superintendent Matt Gillingham will provide an update for Rotarians on the work of Community Truancy Boards. Comprising educators and community members, these boards are an approach to reducing student absences and improving school engagement. They find positive solutions to the reasons for each student’s absences, and help families address obstacles that prevent students from attending school. The Lake Washington School District has two boards; one for the Eastlake and Redmond area, and one for the Juanita and Lake Washington area.
As associate superintendent responsible for student and community services in the Lake Washington School District, Matt provides vision, leadership, and direction for the departments of Student Services; Opportunity, Equity and Inclusion; Athletics and Activities; Risk and Safety; and Communications. Matt has served the district as the director of Student Services and as associate principal of Redmond Middle School. He taught and coached in the Shoreline School District before coming to Lake Washington. Prior to working in public education, Matt worked for a global public affairs firm supporting clients in the fields of workforce development, global health, energy, and wireless technology.
Matt was raised in Vancouver, Washington and graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in 1998. He received his master's degree in 2004 from Seattle University. He is thankful for the positive connections that he's had with Rotary over the years as a scholarship recipient while in high school and as the grandson of a life-long Rotarian. He lives in Snohomish County with his wife and two children.