Gail is a graduate of Western Washington University with a B.A. in Human Services & Education and holds an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She presents at state and national conferences on the issues of rural homelessness, family support principles, and the development of school, community and family partnerships, including the development of family resource centers on school property.

Recent awards include the “Best Administrator” from the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children, and recognition as Youth and Hometown Hero in the local newspapers. Gail lives in South Whidbey with her husband of 28 years, John LaVassar. She has two adult children.

Mary has lived on South Whidbey since 1989 and she has two sons who graduated from SWHS. She received her BA in Human Development in Dec ’10 from WSU Online. After doing her internship with RTL, she started working here Spring 2011.

Mary enjoys working side by side with families to give them a hand up when they are struggling. She is also the Homeless Liaison for the SWSD. Mary enjoys walking the beaches looking for agates and mammoth bones. 🙂