staff

Tom Hulst, Academy Coach

With nearly 35 years' experience in education and governmental leadership, Tom Hulst now serves as a coach for the Washington State Leadership Academy. Hulst has served as an education consultant in several schools and districts over the past four years. This work has included coordinating school improvement plans and guiding the development of processes and goals; supporting the implementation of action plans in literacy, mathematics and other disciplines; conducting research and data analysis; and more.

Prior to his consultant roles, Hulst's educational administrative roles include serving as the assistant superintendent for program development for ESD 113 for six years, as the administrator for educational planning (Division of Learning and Teaching) at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for four years, as superintendent of Peninsula School District for 11 years, and as assistant superintendent and business manager for Peninsula for eight years.

With experience as a policy analyst for education programs with the Office of Financial Management under the Office of the Governor, and as a legislative staffer in the Washington Senate and House and Representatives, Hulst has a unique understanding of the workings between education and government. Additionally, his work experience in the community college arena has imparted him with a special awareness of the ties between K–12 and higher education.

Hulst earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Puget Sound and his master's degree from Washington State University.