Meetings & Events

Dr. Ayva Thomas

The Student-Centered, Collaborative, and Systems Advancement of Racial and Educational Justice in the Northshore School District

Dr. Ayva Thomas is the Executive Director of Racial and Educational Justice for the Northshore School District. In Northshore, Dr. Thomas leads efforts to advance systems change, co-designs with students to pave the way for youth to have the agency to directly influence the work that impacts them, advises the district Racial and Educational Justice Committee and Student Justice Collective, facilitates professional learning for educators and administrators, and builds and maintains family and community partnerships. Dr. Thomas wrote Northshore’s 2024-27 Racial and Educational Justice Framework alongside students, co-led the development of Northshore’s now copyrighted P-12 Ethnic Studies Framework, writes and refreshes district policies, and serves as the district’s Gender Inclusive Schools Coordinator.

Dr. Thomas is also involved in education work in and beyond her local community. She has spoken, been a panelist, or contributed as a lecturer in various spaces, from classrooms and whole school assemblies to college events, local community events, and national organizations. Dr. Thomas has collaborated with the Zinn Education Project, Rethinking Schools, the City of Bothell, the City of Kenmore, and the Seattle Mariners On BASE youth mentorship program, and serves on the Black Education Matters Student Activist Award Advisory Board. Dr. Thomas obtained her college degrees and professional certifications at the University of Washington.