Meet the 2026/27 SWSF Board...
The 2026/27 South Whidbey Schools Foundation Board: (l to r back row): Melanie Readshaw (Foundation Secretary), Supt. Becky Clifford, Brian Maddux, Anna Lester, Kellie Poolman, Bonnie Bishop, Justin Silva. Front row: Derek Hoshiko, Gabby Guidry (Foundation Treasurer) , Meredith Macharia, Julie Bianchi (Foundation Vice-President) , and Cindy Gass Johnson. (Foundation President). Not pictured: Dave McCoy.
Cindy Gass Johnson
President
Cindy has been a resident of Whidbey Island for almost 25 years after moving to the PNW in early 2001. She graduated from the University of Alabama with degrees in Anthropology and Archaeology and had a career as an Archaeologist and Museum Professional for almost 20 years.
She traveled and worked in the field throughout the Middle Atlantic and Southeastern US as well as throughout Mexico and the Caribbean. After moving to the Seattle area, Cindy began work at the Burke Museum of Natural History at UW and then gave up the commute to become the Executive Director for the Island County Historical Society, and later as the President of their Board of Trustees.
After retirement, she has volunteered with several non-profit organizations becoming passionate about fundraising and development and has enjoyed learning and investing in our local community. She currently serves as the Board President for the South Whidbey Middle and High School PTSA.
Cindy and her husband, Matthew, are the proud parents of their daughter, Georgia Kate, who is a student in the South Whidbey School District. Their furry children, Shep and Misty, are rescues and enjoy traveling, camping, hiking, and going skiing with their family.
Julie Bianchi
Vice President
Julie Bianchi is a proud fifth generation Whidbey Islander and a 2003 graduate of South Whidbey High School. Along with her husband John, she is raising three children (Aila, Lucas, and Brooks) who all currently attend the South Whidbey School District. She graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Communication and a minor in Business Administration, later earning a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and currently teaches continuing education courses focused on nonprofit fundraising at University of Washington and Seattle University.
Julie serves as Vice President of Cloudbreak Collective, a nonprofit fundraising consulting firm partnering with organizations across the Western US on capital campaigns, grantwriting, and annual fundraising. Julie specializes in supporting nonprofit organizations build fundraising capacity for big visions, especially organizations in small communities or new to fundraising. She has partnered with more than 100 organizations nationwide. Julie is a founding board member of the Advancement Northwest chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Beyond working with clients and students, she loves to be outside with her children, run local trails, and tend to chickens and apples on her family's farmstead.
Gabby Guidry, Treasurer
After graduating from SWHS in 2005, Gabby moved away to attend college. She received a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from Bastyr University. Her love for food and wellness took her to Whole Foods Market where she has worked for the past 13 years. Her experience includes store operations, learning and development, and learning technology. She is passionate about leveraging technology to enable learning, connection and efficiency.
She returned to Whidbey in 2020 and now Iives here with her husband, Seth, their two sons and daughter. In her free time, you will find her doing what grounds her most: knitting, cooking, ceramics, mosaics, anything she can do with her hands!
Melanie Readshaw
Secretary
Melanie is a married mother of two who was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. She has been a Speech-Language Pathologist since 2019 and absolutely LOVES working with children! Currently she works for the SWSD as an SLP at the MS/HS, and also works as the Special Education TOSA (teacher on special assignment), at the elementary school. She loves working at both campuses and building relationships with students and staff along the way.
Having connections to the Island, (her husband graduated from South Whidbey!), they moved here just over two years ago and they haven't looked back! She and her husband Lawrence and have a son, Bram, who is a student at South Whidbey High School, while their eldest lives in South Carolina.
Melanie loves traveling, going to new restaurants, being with family and friends, and spending time with all of their animals (2 dogs, 1 cat, 1 rabbit, 3 chickens)!
Bonnie Bishop
Info to come soon...
Derek Hoshiko
Derek Hoshiko is an organizer with For the People. For more the 20 years, Derek has managed groups of volunteers, activists, and entrepreneurs. In 2012, after witnessing continued inaction to stop global warming, he shifted his focus to climate action.
In 2015, he journeyed over one thousand miles on a bicycle pilgrimage from Seattle to the tar sands to witness and learn the suffering caused by fossil fuel extraction.
He heads Rapid and Just Climate Action, a project to stop global warming by 2030, mentors a youth climate justice coalition, and works to replace supremacy culture with solidarity culture in local movements.
Derek serves on the boards of E3 Washington and Salish Sea Cooperative Finance, and has worked for change at many organizations such as Greenpeace USA; Climate Solutions; Cascadia Climate Collaborative; YES! Magazine; Seattle Good Business Network; and Web Collective; among others.
He has lived on South Whidbey for 11 years and has three young children.
Anna Lester
Anna Lester has two children in the South Whidbey School District.
Meredith Macharia
Meredith moved to South Whidbey in 2018 but grew up in Portland, Oregon. As a youth, she attended a private international school and hosted many students from around the world. After living and working overseas in multiple countries, where she taught youth and refugees and after completing various humanitarian projects, she worked with immigrant populations in Boston and New York at the United Nations.
She has a diverse background which includes Anthropology, Sociology, Inter-cultural Education, Nursing and Public /Global Health.
Meredith loves the arts, is multilingual and is passionate about innovative education programs including integrated diversity, equity and inclusion curriculum. She currently works as a public health nurse for a K-12 school district.
Meredith is grateful to be settling into the Whidbey Island community where she is spending lots of time outdoors exploring and engaging in adventurous activities with her family.
Brian Maddux
Info to come...
Dave McCoy
Dave is the Chief Administration and Strategy Officer of MX Holdings, a global commodities trader and vertically integrated aluminum manufacturer.
He oversees Corporate Development and Strategy, Global Financial Planning and Analysis, Information Technology, Marketing, and Industry Analysis, strengthening the company's foundation for operational excellence.
Dave has been with MX Holdings since 2016, previously serving as Senior Vice President of Corporate Planning and Development. Before that, he held several leadership roles within MX Holdings, including CFO of MXH Manufacturing, VP of Finance, and Director of FP&A.
His broader career experience also includes key financial and leadership positions at SunEdison, Express Scripts, and Home Decorators Collection, a subsidiary of Home Depot. Dave holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Belmont University and an MBA in Finance and International Business from Saint Louis University.
Dave and his wife Lindsey moved to Whidbey Island in 2022 with their two school age children. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, hiking, traveling, and spending time with his family.
Kellie Poolman
Kellie moved to Whidbey Island in 2017 after growing up and living in Vancouver, BC. She attended Simon Fraser University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Sciences.
After her move to Washington, she worked as an Administrative Assistant at the Mukilteo School District. She is now currently at home raising two little girls, ages 3 and 1, with her husband, Jon.
In her spare time, she enjoys baking treats, working in the garden, camping, and entertaining with family and friends.
Justin Silva
Justin Silva is in his 11th year of teaching and his 13th in education. Prior to going into education, he worked in construction management, helping to design and build large scale construction projects, ranging from prisons to schools.
He has a degree in Political Science, and a Master's in Education.
Four years ago Justin and his wife moved to Whidbey, and Justin took the position of Leadership teacher and ASB coordinator, during which he received the SW School Foundation's Mentorship Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Last year Justin transitioned into the English department and is loving every minute of it. He hopes to continue to inspire his students and others to push themselves to be the change they wish to see in the world.
Ex-Officio
Dr. Becky Clifford
Dr. Becky Clifford (EdD, ’18), a graduate of the UW’s Leadership for Learning (L4L) program, is the new superintendent of South Whidbey School District. With more than 20 years in public education and a deep commitment to equity, inclusion and special education, Dr. Clifford brings both compassion and vision to her new role. Previously, she served as assistant superintendent in Anacortes School District, where she led school curriculum, defined strategic goals, overseen student safety and services, managed budgets, managed community partnerships, aligned resources with district priorities and more, according to her resume.
An advocate for students and special education, she also served for five years as the executive director of special services in the Everett School District — where she also landed a superintendent internship in 2016. In the Seattle School District, she led the special education department.
Dr. Clifford attends Foundation Board meetings as a non-voting member.