together we can!

Zachary is a high school student currently experiencing his senior year remotely.  He attends school in the great state of Washington and is a Varsity football player and Thespian.  Zachary is a dedicated, community volunteer and has helped elementary and middle school students alike in achieving their goals.  

The idea of helping students get back in the classroom safely was born out of the frustration of not being in school  due to Covid-19.  Out of that frustration, Helping Schools 360 was an idea that came to life. Because he and his classmates are missing so much of their traditional education,  Zac wanted to help his teammates and friends get back in the classroom and have a "normal" year.   Many students across the country (including Zac) have not seen the inside of a classroom since March 13, 2020.

He hopes by assisting in the effort to supply public schools with PPE and other necessary items students in his home state of Washington and ideally around the country will be able to safely resume class this year. 

Zachary believes public school students should enjoy the same benefits and advantages that private school offers. To this end, he is working tirelessly to raise much needed funds and increase awareness of the ongoing underfunding of public schools across the nation.

 Laurie’s passion for volunteering in schools can be traced back to her days as a middle school student when she would tag along with her Mom and read to students dressed up as a Sesame Street character!  Seeing the delight on children’s faces as she read them stories has continued to inspire her throughout her life. 

Laurie began her career in non-profit education organizations as the elected President of the Lake Co Op Preschool in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 2006. She was responsible for the early education implementation and management of over 150 preschool age children, including the hiring and firing of the Executive Director and teaching staff. Since then, she has held numerous roles in Nonprofits and Parent Leader groups ranging from Member at Large to President in both primary and secondary schools. She has been a leader in shaping policy specifically around equity, inclusion and diversity. 

Laurie brings much to the table beyond policy making. A talented fundraiser, Laurie has raised thousands of dollars for the many parent leader groups she has been a part of.  An admitted tech junkie, she has also created websites for parent leader groups helping to facilitate fundraising that is both efficient and prolific. 

Laurie attended the Ohio State University and at the age of 19 became the youngest staffer in the state Senate. Following her stint at the state capitol, Laurie went on to work  in Washington DC. No stranger to policy and negotiations, Laurie continued her career at the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) where she was the Director of the Alliance. A group that advocated to dismantle the barriers in justice and education, focus on degree completion, and data and transparency among colleges and universities. 

All of these roles have shaped her career arc and ultimately led to the formation of Helping Schools 360. A non-profit she and her son, Zachary formed in the summer of 2020.  HS 360 is committed to helping public schools reach a level of financial parity with private schools and is raising funds to combat budget shortfalls in the wake of Covid 19.  

When not working towards the goal of improving public education, Laurie enjoys writing and playing the piano. And on those rare sunny days in the Pacific Northwest, you can find her on the golf course or on the tennis court. Laurie lives in Olympia, WA with her three children and husband, Thad.