It is with profound sadness that WA Charters shares the news of the passing of Tina Rohrbach, a beloved member of our charter public school community and a 2025 recipient of our Outstanding Parent Advocacy Award. Tina passed away on February 11, 2026, after a courageous 6-year battle with cancer. Just before she was honored at our annual conference, Tina found out that there was no path forward on her treatments.
Tina’s advocacy journey began at a school event where she heard about the need for parent voices in the fight for charter public schools. Rather than walk away, she leaned in, participating in Zoom calls with legislators to share her experience as a charter public school parent, representing the interests of all charter public school families.
“I believe that showing up and sharing our stories makes a real difference,” she said when asked about her commitment to advocacy last year. Tina’s advocacy made a real difference.
Tina walked her talk; she was nominated for the Parent Advocate of the Year Award because she showed up. Tina was always there when local decision makers came to visit the school, during parent meetings, or when there was a Parent Teacher Association event that needed support. Her generosity wasn’t only evident in her commitment to advocacy but extended to her school community as well.
At the heart of Tina’s commitment to advocacy was her daughter’s transformative experience as a student at a Spokane charter public school. She emphasized how the personalized approach and sense of community made her daughter’s school a “perfect fit”; as an advocate, she wanted all Washington students to have access to the same opportunities as her own child. That experience shaped Tina’s deep conviction about why access to public school options matter.
“Every student is different — they learn differently, thrive in different environments, and have unique needs,” she shared in an interview last year. “Having access to different types of public schools gives families the ability to find the best fit for their child, helping every student reach their full potential.”
Those words reflect everything Tina stood for, and they will continue to inspire our work long after her passing. We are honored to name our Parent Advocate award the Tina Rohrbach Heart of Advocacy Award.
Born in Canada, Tina lived in Las Vegas for 25 years before returning to Spokane to be closer to family. To cherish her memory are her husband and an 11-year-old daughter. Those who had the privilege of meeting her know how kind, funny, and genuine she was and she is already deeply missed by all who knew her. Her legacy lives on in every parent who finds their voice, shares their family’s story with a legislator to help ensure that more Washington students get to learn in an environment that works best for them.
WA Charters extends our deepest condolences to Tina’s family, her daughter’s school community, and all who loved her. We are forever grateful for the advocate she was and the difference she made.
