staff

Charlene Allen,
Academy Coach

In addition to her role as a coach for the Washington State Leadership Academy, Charlene Allen is a program specialist for ESD 113. Ms. Allen’s role at the ESD 113 provides her many opportunities in the areas of leadership, professional development, and support for local area schools. Most recently she has engaged in collaborative work with the Washington Education Association on the development of the Professional Learning Communities Web site, www.plcwashington.org.

Allen has failed “retirement” for nearly ten years! In 2002, she retired after 33 years with Tumwater School District. During her time of service at Tumwater she was a teacher, a principal, and a director of special education and K–12 curriculum. Since her retirement, she has been a school improvement facilitator for OSPI as well as ESD 113.

Allen earned her bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University,her fifth year from St. Martin’s College, and a master’s degree in School Administration from Pacific Lutheran University.

"I believe that education means to acquaint the young with the best heritage of the human race. But while much of this heritage is expressed in words, it is effective only if these words become reality…Only the idea which has materialized in the flesh can influence man; the idea which remains—a word only changes words.” —Erich Fromm: Beyond the Chains of Illusion