Get to Know our School Board
Director Jennifer James-Wilson, Chair
Jennifer James-Wilson was first elected to the Port Townsend School Board in 2009. She is currently serving her fourth 4-year term and is one of the longest-serving school board directors in Jefferson County.
Jennifer is a fourth-generation Washingtonian, comes from a long line of educators and mariners, was raised in Seattle, graduated from Queen Anne High School and earned a BA in Communications/ Journalism from the University of Washington. After graduation, Jennifer and her husband Scott Wilson made their way around the Sound living and working in Tacoma, Olympia and Shelton before settling in Port Townsend in 1989. They co-published the Port Townsend-Jefferson County Leader until its sale in 2016.
All the Wilson children -- Hana, Sophie and Walker -- attended PT schools from kindergarten to graduation. Jennifer was an active classroom and school volunteer, as well as president of Quimper UU Fellowship, a founding board member and president of the Jefferson County Family YMCA, a member of the Jefferson Education Foundation board and various scholarship committees including the Deb Johnson Memorial Scholarship. Upon the twins' graduation in 2009, Jennifer became the third member of her family in four generations to be elected to a school board. She has served in multiple positions on the board and considers schools the heart and soul of the community.
In her free time Jennifer does landscaping in her yard, is a backyard birder and an avid walker fond of the city's public trails and beaches. She reads extensively, travels by air, land and sea and loves to play Sequence, Scrabble, and Settlers of Cataan.
Director James Wilson serves the At Large District #4. Elected 2009.
Directors
Director O'Hara serves the At Large District #5. Appointed 2014. Elected November 2014.
Director John Nowak
John Nowak has been a lifelong Port Townsend community member, graduating from Port Townsend High School in 1974. After education at Peninsula College and Washington State University, he returned to the community to work at Jefferson Healthcare for more than 40 years. During his employment there as a nurse he served in several clinical roles, including director of the Emergency Room, Intensive Care, and Labor and Delivery. In his last 15 years there he held several administrative roles including director of IT, project manager, chief of performance improvement, and executive director of the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). John also served on the Leadership team for five years.
John has been involved in many community activities including Jumping Mouse board member and president, Rhody Run board member, Port Townsend Parks Recreation and Trees Advisory Board, and Jefferson Transit Advisory Board. He also volunteered as an assistant coach at PTHS for nine years in soccer and basketball.
John has had a lifelong interest in helping kids in the community. He and his wife Lynn raised two sons in Port Townsend. His work with Jumping Mouse helped him to understand the issues of mental health in children. John’s work in coaching gave him a special understanding of issues that kids face on a day-to-day level and insight about how amazing the youth in the community truly are. Working at the hospital gave him experience in administration, leadership, working with the community, community health and how to interface with the public. His experience with CHIP was particularly helpful in understanding the issues of youth. While working on CHIP he facilitated a team focused on the Youth Age Band, which spent about nine months developing a plan to improve the health of youth in the community. It had a specific focus on mental health.
John has always had a passion for kids and education. His mother Rose Ann was a pioneer as one of the first women on the school board in the 60’s and 70’s. He has been interested in serving on the school board for most of his adult life, and now with his recent retirement he has the time to commit to this work. He also enjoys hiking, fishing, reading, repairing vintage typewriters, and spending time with family, including his grandson. John cares deeply about the youth of the community and believes the highest calling is to serve them and those who help shape them.
Director Nowak is serving the 1st District.
Appointed June 2022. Elected November 2023 (2 year term)
Director Simon Little
Simon Little grew up in Port Townsend and attended PT Schools (K-12) before graduating in 1999. The unique attributes of living in an active community located between the Olympic Mountains and the Salish Sea didn't fully settle in until he moved away for college. Upon completion of a Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree in 2003 and a Master of Architecture degree in 2007 from Judson University, Simon and his wife Shelly moved back to Port Townsend.
After working as a designer in architecture offices for the first 10 years of his post-collegiate career Simon (and Shelly) launched their design studio in Port Townsend, now in their tenth year of business. They enjoy providing high quality design services to the local community and the relationships that have formed through that effort.
Simon and Shelly's children -- Macy, Connor, McKenna, and Cayden -- attend PT schools. Simon frequently volunteers in the classroom and regularly coaches youth soccer for both the Jefferson County Recreational Programs and the local Club Soccer programs. Simon is currently on the Port Townsend Main Street Board where he acts as the head of the design committee.
During his down time, Simon likes to play pickleball, go on family hikes, and go camping.
Simon serves District #2
Appointed June 2023. Elected November 2023 (4 year Term)
Newly Elected Director Matt Klontz
Matt Klontz moved to Port Townsend as a child in 2nd grade, attending Port Townsend schools until graduation. Matt then earned a BA in Civil Engineering at Washington State University, and, during his career in Seattle, earned an MS in Construction Management from University Washington. After moving back to Port Townsend with his family in 2013, he has worked for Jefferson County, the City of Sequim, and, as of 2021, the Port of Port Townsend as a professional engineer. He recently earned a second Master’s in Theology and Leadership from Gonzaga University.
Matt looks forward to using his professional experience as a team member and leader to serve the community through his time on the school board. He hopes his past work on budgets, infrastructure, grant procurement, and cultivating effective teams will be an asset to the district, students, staff, and families.
Matt and his wife have two sons, one at PTHS and the other at Blue Heron Middle School. He has enjoyed volunteering at the elementary level and has coached youth basketball. He enjoys watching his sons and classmates in their various activities and hopes to help build more opportunities for kids and families living in the Port Townsend School District.
Matt believes one needs to use their gifts, talents, and acquired knowledge to serve others. In his downtime, he likes to do yard work, fish, play basketball, and spend time with family and friends eating good food, competing, and camping.
Elected 2023 - 4 year term
Student Representatives
Zen Cook
Zen Cook has lived in Port Townsend for the vast majority of his life and has been a part of the Port Townsend School District since kindergarten, going to Grant Street Elementary, Blue Heron Middle School, and, currently, Port Townsend High School.
Zen is very involved with activities provided at PTHS including; being the Chief Engineer (CE) for the Underwater Robotics team, an actor in the theater/drama program, a member of the spectrum alliance, as well as other things. Zen has always loved opportunities to express himself and his ideas through numerous creative outlets and leadership positions. He has done what he can to be a part of as many unique elective classes over the years to expand his well of knowledge and seek new interests and passions. Some of Zen’s favorites include; Art class, Computer Aided Design (CAD) class, culinary, chemistry, and anatomy/physiology.
Outside of his responsibilities, Zen loves to do art, usually traditional, play tabletop games, such as D&D, explore nature, and hang out with his friends. He particularly enjoys hiking in the mountains, especially around Mount Rainier, and backpacking. He also particularly loves to build and design things and as such is hoping to pursue a mechanical engineering major in college. Zen Cook also is fascinated by the subject of philosophy and has a deep appreciation for those who are willing to participate in such conversations and debates. He finds the world and people around him to be fascinating and believes there is always more that you can learn.
Zen also has a strong belief that progress is the goal, and if he has the opportunity to contribute to that progression, then he is eager to do so. This is why he is so grateful to be a representative for the students of Port Townsend Schools and to be a part of the process of change.
Jack Cole
Jack Cole has lived in Port Townsend For his entire life and has been a part of the district since the first grade, going to Grant Street Elementary, Salish Coast Elementary as the first fifth grader of that school, Blue Heron Middle School, and, currently, Port Townsend High School.
Jack is involved in activities nearly year round with activities and sports offered at both the high school and locally including; Being the Competition Technician for his Robotics Team, The Roboctobi, a Tuba player in the Band, and a varsity player for both the Boys Tennis and Golf Teams. Jack Has always been very social in who he talks to, always making sure to have at least an acquaintance in almost every social circle with whom he can always share a great conversation. He has also done his fair share of unique electives with his favorites being Band, Computer Aided Design (CAD) class, and Chemistry.
Outside of his responsibilities, Jack enjoys reading a wide variety of novels, mostly fiction, at any time of the day for any length of time. He also enjoys playing games with friends rather than tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons, board games like Catan or Monopoly, or occasionally online with others. Jack also has a deep love for building things like legos, outdoor projects like building a fence, robotics, and even constructing his very own computer, which is why he hopes to become a Mechanical Engineer through college.
Jack also Strongly believes that with enough hard work and dedication, anything you set your mind to can be accomplished. This is why he will strive to be a voice for as many people as he can with his position, and he is thankful, to everyone who made this possible.