School Board

School boards are the link between public schools and the communities they serve. As publicly elected officials and members of their local communities, school directors are uniquely positioned to:

Create a community-wide, shared vision and set goals for improving student achievement
Create the conditions and direct the resources for accelerating improvement
Hold the system accountable to high and equitable achievement for each and every student
Communicate needs and progress of students to the community
Build public will to improve outcomes for all students and succeed in reaching the district’s student achievement goals

The board is the authority for local school regulations, policy, and programs within the framework of state law. In addition to ensuring high levels of learning for all, they are responsible for overseeing the financial health of the district, ensure legal interests are protected, facilities are properly cared for, and necessary policies are adopted.

The board supervises the superintendent of schools who is responsible for leading and implementing the necessary steps in order to achieve board-adopted goals, Working together with the superintendent, the board seeks to develop Washington's Most Sought-After Graduates (District Vision), by ensuring all students receive high quality instruction in an aligned and coherent system while addressing their social and emotional needs in a safe and engaging environment (District Mission).

Meet Your Board of Directors

Kathy Mulkerin - Vice President (Position #1)

Kathy Mulkerin was elected to the WWPS Board of Directors in November 2021. Her current term ends in 2025.

Ms. Mulkerin grew up in Walla Walla. She attended Walla Walla Public Schools, K-12, at Prospect Point Elementary School, Garrison Junior High and graduated from Walla Walla High School. She went on to attend college at the University of Portland earning a BA in Psychology. She holds a Montessori Teaching certificate from the Montessori Institute Northwest, a Masters of Education, Primary Montessori from Loyola University Maryland and a Master of Professional Studies, Paralegal Studies from The George Washington University.

A life-long volunteer, Ms. Mulkerin started her volunteer career as a teen at the YWCA of Walla Walla. In 2018, Ms. Mulkerin was recognized by the organization as one of Walla Walla’s Most Inspiring Women. Ms. Mulkerin currently sits on the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) Legislative committee. This is third year serving on the committee. She is a member of the Washington Commission of African American Affairs (WCAAA) Study & Work Group that is creating a report of recommendation to the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC). Kathy continues her promise to promote education for all children to ensure our community is a more positive, equitable and sustainable society.

School Board Committee Assignments: *Administrative Policy and *Instructional Materials.

Email Kathy Mulkerin / (509) 527-3000

Elizabeth Alonso-Barrientos (Position #2)

Elizabeth Alonso-Barrientos was elected to her first term as a member of the Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors in November 2025.

Alonso-Barrientos is employed by Blue Mountain Action Council, where she serves families as a Homeless Youth and Young Adult Systems of Care Navigator. She also brings more than a year and a half of experience tutoring at-risk middle and high school students, work that has kept her closely connected to student needs and educational support systems.

A proud Walla Walla native, Alonso-Barrientos was born and raised in the community and attended Walla Walla Public Schools from grades 3–12, graduating from Walla Walla High School. Her higher education journey includes coursework at Eastern Washington University, an Associate of Arts degree from Walla Walla Community College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Washington State University Tri-Cities, with concentrations in Psychology, Sociology, and Spanish.

Alonso-Barrientos previously worked for Walla Walla Public Schools as a tutor through the WSU GEAR UP and AVID programs while she was a student at WWCC. In that role, she directly applied her academic learning to provide individualized support to students, gaining firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities within the district.

As a WWPS alumna, former staff member, and aunt to current district students, Alonso-Barrientos brings a deeply personal perspective to her role as a board member. She is a strong advocate for students, families, and staff, and emphasizes the importance of overall well-being as a foundation for student performance and success. She also recognizes the need for additional support for educators to ensure positive outcomes for all students.

Alonso-Barrientos believes that knowledge is power—whether gained through formal education or ongoing personal and professional learning—and is committed to helping create supportive, inclusive pathways for students to reach their full potential.

School Board Committee Assignments: *Administrative Finance; *Equity & Access; and *District Sustainability.

Email Elizabeth Alonso-Barrientos / (509) 527-3000

Ruth Ladderud (Position #3)

Ruth Ladderud was appointed to the WWPS Board of Directors on October 2, 2012. She was elected in 2013 to complete the term and re-elected in 2015, 2019 and 2023. Her current term ends in 2027.

Mrs. Ladderud, an administrative assistant at Whitman College, has lived most of her life in Walla Walla. She attended Prospect Point Elementary School, Paine Elementary, Garrison Junior High, and graduated from Walla Walla High School, Whitman College (biology) and WSU (animal science). Her husband, John, is a veterinarian and they have three children who all graduated from Walla Walla High School.

Mrs. Ladderud has spent many hours volunteering in the schools and at the district level. She has been honored with the 2016 Whitman College Pete and Hedda Reid Service to Walla Walla Award. She has served on both the High School and Community Facilities Task Force and is active in 4-H and American Association of University Women.

School Board Committee Assignments: *Administrative Policy; ***Classified Negotiations; ***Graduates of Distinction; ***Parents in Action (Head Start); *School Health Advisory; *District Sustainability and ***Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA).

Email Ruth Ladderud / (509) 527-3000

Alayna Brinton - President (Position #4)

Alayna Marie Brinton was elected to the WWPS Board of Directors in November of 2023. Her current term ends in 2027.

She received her undergraduate degree from Washington State University and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Walla Walla University. Alayna is the owner and chief clinical officer of Anchor Point Counseling where she has spent the past 7 years serving the behavioral health needs of youth and families in the Walla Walla Valley. She has 18 years of experience working in the mental health sector and is able to bring those experiences to the table to benefit Walla Walla Public Schools.

Beyond the school board, she has actively engaged in community involvement and volunteer work such as serving on the board of the National Association of Social Workers for Washington State as a Regional Representative, Walla Walla Community Health Advisory Board Member (CHAB), Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board Member for the City of Walla Walla, Walla Walla County Crisis Intercept mapping and planning committee member, Walla Walla County Opioid RFA planning committee, and serves on the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) as a Committee Member. Alayna also was a founder, executive director, and chairperson for a local non-profit focused on serving the behavioral health needs of the underserved at Blue Mountain Health Cooperative. She also is an active member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and as a local member of The American Association of University Women where she participates in multiple philanthropic events a year. Alayna has a passion for public service, which combines a robust educational background with a deep commitment to servant leadership that reflects a sustained dedication to shaping the future of the district.

Alayna's leadership style encapsulates a commitment to education, community welfare, and synergistic leadership.

Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Alayna finds solace in spending time with her husband and two small children engaging in outdoor pursuits such as hunting, fishing, beekeeping, and managing the "mini-farm" at her home.

School Board Committee Assignments: ***Career/Technical Education; *Equity & Access; ***Safe Schools; *School Health Advisory and ***Student Representative Orientation/Mentorship.

Email Alayna Brinton / (509) 527-3000

Derek Sarley (Position #5)

Derek Sarley was elected to the WWPS Board of Directors in November 2015 and re-elected in 2019 and 2023. His current term ends in 2027.

Mr. Sarley is a communications consultant, who for 20 years has worked with clients in many industries including education. He and his wife Erin, a professor in Psychology at Whitman College, have two school-aged daughters. Mr. Sarley is a native Pennsylvanian who has also lived in Arizona, California, Washington, DC and Texas, where he graduated from Rice University. Since settling in Walla Walla, he has been active with the Walla Walla Public Schools Community Facilities Task Force and the independent group Citizens for Schools, working to find solutions to the district’s building needs.

School Board Committee Assignments: ***Administrative Consult and Confer; *Administrative Finance; ***Certificated Negotiations; and ***Legislative Representative.

Email Derek Sarley / (509) 527-3000

Student Representatives to the School Board

Ari Kim-Leavitt - Student Representative to the School Board

Ari Kim-Leavitt was appointed Student Representative to the School Board in August 2024.

Ari is a senior at Walla Walla High School, and has attended Walla Walla Public Schools since kindergarten at Sharpstein Elementary. At Wa-Hi, Ari is a member/officer of many different clubs, notably Asian American/Pacific Islander Alliance, Green Club, and Speech & Debate, and also serves on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. Given that the goals of the School Board are oriented towards student progress and equity, Ari is most interested in serving as a Representative on the Board of Directors to bring student voice to important decisions that reflect a broad range of views in order to contribute to improvement for the better of the students in the district. Ari enjoys playing tennis, traveling, bike rides and playing the drums in his free time.

School Board Committee Assignment: ***Student Representative Orientation/Mentorship.

Abril Salazar - Student Representative to the School Board

Abril Salazar was appointed Student Representative to the School Board in August 2025.

Abril is a junior at Walla Walla High School and has attended Walla Walla Public Schools since kindergarten at Sharpstein Elementary. At Wa-Hi, she currently participates in tennis and Youth and Government at the YMCA, and looks forward to becoming more involved in additional extracurricular activities. As the new student representative to the School Board, she is eager to grow as a leader and ensure that student voices are heard and represented in important decisions that shape our schools.

Type of Committee: *Administrative, ***Other