Board of Trustees

PRESIDENT

Naomi’s connection to Montessori education began early, as a student at West Seattle Montessori School. When it came time to find the right preschool for her first child, she rediscovered the value of the Montessori environment that nurtured her own childhood learning and has been an advocate ever since. Naomi and her family have been dedicated members of the Pacific Crest School community since 2021, where her two children are enrolled in primary and lower elementary classrooms.

A graduate of Western Washington University, Naomi earned her PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. With over 10 years of experience developing professional education programs in Computer Science, IT, and Project Management at the

University of Washington, she brings a wealth of expertise in fostering growth and innovation in STEM fields.

VICE PRESIDENT

Jay and his wife Rebecca moved to Seattle in 2014, and have been thrilled to be a part of the Pacific Crest community since 2016. They currently have two children enrolled at the school, and expect to send their third there as well.

Jay has nearly 20 years of experience in technology and currently works as a Product Manager in Reality Labs at Meta. He grew up in the Washington, DC area and holds a BS and MBA from the University of Virginia.

Outside of work, Jay enjoys spending time outdoors skiing, hiking, camping, and biking with his family.

TREASURER

Andrew, his partner Erin, and sons Colin and Rowan have been part of the Pacific Crest community since 2022 when Colin started in Lower Elementary. Andrew and Erin have seen their children thrive in Montessori classrooms and are thrilled as Rowan now begins his PCS journey.

Andrew has over 20 years of experience in Strategy and Marketing across a variety of industries, and is currently a Director of Hotels Strategy at Expedia Group. He believes strongly in the importance of travel, discovery, and adventure, and looks forward to the boys’ first steps exploring the world.

Andrew and Erin have been in Seattle for 10 years since making the move from the Washington DC metro area. When not spending time with Colin and Rowan, he enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy novels, board gaming, hiking, and cooking. 

SECRETARY

Amy Klosterman (she/her) and her family joined the Pacific Crest community in 2017, when her son entered a wonderful primary class led by teacher Annie.  He graduated from the school in June 2026.  She and her spouse enjoyed seeing their child learn and grow in the unique environment of a Montessori school. The PCS community has been a special part of their lives. 

Amy is an attorney and licensed private investigator, providing independent investigations to schools and workplaces as well as training and consulting on discrimination and misconduct issues. She received her B.A. from Swarthmore College, and her J.D. from the Case Western Reserve School of Law. She spent her childhood living in various places in the upper Midwest and has called Seattle home since 2003. Her hobbies include running, reading, and baking.

Paul and his family joined the Pacific Crest community in 2021, when his daughter started in Primary. She is now in her third year in Lower Elementary, while his son has begun his own journey in Primary this year. Paul is continually inspired by the intentionality and thoughtfulness that permeates the entire Montessori curriculum, and aims to infuse his board work with the same spirit.

For the last 8 years, Paul has been a stay-at-home parent to his kids. Previously, he worked in design strategy and research across a variety of industries, including health insurance and consumer mobile devices. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University and a Masters in Product Design from Stanford University.

Originally from Wisconsin, Paul has called Seattle home for the past decade, after stops in Chicago, the Bay Area, and Seoul, South Korea. In his free time, Paul loves experiencing the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest – skiing in winter, and hiking, boating, and crabbing in summer. At home, he enjoys board games with his family and tackling DIY projects around the house.

Steve and his family moved to Seattle in 2022.  They have been in the Montessori community since 2016.  They have three kids at PCS currently.  

Professionally, Steve has worked as a carpenter, working up to superintendent on major construction projects in the Seattle area.  He has recently started his own GC business, SETZ Construction, doing residential carpentry work.  

Steve was born in San Diego and raised in Wenatchee, WA.  In his free time he enjoys cooking for his family, outdoor activities including dirt biking, snowboarding, and traveling.  

Beth and her family joined the PCS community in 2023 when their daughter enrolled in the primary program. Their son followed in 2025, and since then, Beth and her husband, John, have enjoyed watching both children grow and thrive in the Montessori environment. They have also appreciated the strong sense of community and the meaningful relationships they have built at PCS.

Originally from Texas, Beth has called Seattle home for the past decade. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and a JD from Seattle University School of Law. After law school, Beth practiced commercial litigation for seven years before focusing on raising her family. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and learning to play the piano.

Shep and his wife, Alina, moved with their two children to Seattle in 2017, and they have been part of the PCS community since 2018. Professionally, Shep has over 15 years of experience in managing operations and supply chain teams across a variety of cloud products and services, and is currently managing a global team in AWS Infrastructure. 

Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities, running, mountaineering, and soccer. Shep is an avid traveler who has explored over 30 countries. He grew up and lived in Tel Aviv for almost 30 years and holds an MBA from the University of Virginia.

Briana McDougall joined the Pacific Crest community in 2025 when her eldest son enrolled in the Primary program. Inspired by the school’s commitment to holistic development, she is eager to contribute her strategic and operational expertise to the Board of Trustees.

Professionally, Briana serves as the Senior Manager of Community Programs at Everpure, a data management and storage firm, where she oversees community engagement initiatives. She is also the founder of Luxe Tiny Travel, a travel advisory company specializing in stress-free itineraries for families with young children.

 A Bay Area native, Briana relocated to Seattle in 2010. She studied African Studies at the University of Kansas, and Global Policy Studies at Chatham College, in Pittsburgh, PA. She resides in Ballard with her husband, Zack, their two sons, and their Australian Shepherd, Sydney. Outside of her professional and board commitments, she enjoys gardening, wine, and exploring new destinations with her family.

Kevin, his wife Allison, and daughter Nina joined the PCS community in 2022, enrolling Nina in the primary program. Since then, they have witnessed Nina’s development flourish and have built meaningful connections within a community dedicated to the wellbeing of all children.

Professionally, Kevin is a Managing Director at BDO USA, PC, as a leader in the Strategy and Innovation segment. He holds a BS in Accounting and Business Management, an MS in Tax, and is a licensed CPA in Washington. His career has focused on helping organizations improve operations and drive sustainable financial results.

Kevin is passionate about the outdoors and enjoys spending time with his family skiing, fly fishing, and exploring the city.

Motivated by his family’s positive experience at PCS, Kevin is eager to serve on the board. He hopes to leverage his professional expertise and commitment to community to help guide PCS’s continued growth and success, ensuring a nurturing environment for all families.

Kevin and his wife Kait joined the Pacific Crest community when his daughter enrolled in the school in January 2026. Kevin is the CEO of Stellar Collection, a travel company that operates hospitality and tourism brands throughout Alaska. He also works for an Alaska-based investment firm and has served on the board of several private companies. Kevin holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from Clemson University.

Kevin joined the PCS Board to support the school community and contribute his experience in organizational leadership, strategy, and finance. 

Kevin and Kait made Seattle their home in 2021, after several years of moving for work and living in Houston, Alaska, and London. Kevin enjoys reading, traveling, learning new languages, and exploring the Pacific Northwest with his family.

Alex Saunders and his spouse Sophie joined the Pacific Crest community in 2009 when Sophie began working in the primary program. Sophie was also a primary student in the very first class at Pacific Crest. They now have two children at Pacific Crest, Stella in lower elementary and Hank in upper elementary.

Alex is the founder of the Seattle based construction company Bucktide GC. He leads a small group of fifteen employees in building and renovating custom, architectural homes in the Seattle area. Prior to starting Bucktide GC, Alex worked as a carpenter on

Amelia and her family joined the PCS community in 2019. She has seen her 2 girls thrive in their time with PCS. Amelia holds an MBA from UW and a Law degree from Australia, where she grew up. Her experience spans Australia and the US in public policy, law and edtech. She currently works for a Seattle-based consulting group and advises large foundations, non-profits and for-profit organizations in a range of strategy and design projects around education and technology. 

Amelia and husband Nav moved to Seattle in 2012 from Australia and outside of work, she loves art and cooking and continues to attempt skiing even though both girls have far surpassed her on the slopes.