Staff & Board
Rebecca Thomas
Interim Executive Director
Katie Stein
Executive Operations Coordinator
Jamilah Williams
Manager of Communications
Amy Miller
Senior Director of Advocacy
Jesse Taylor
Vice President of Government Affairs
Elizabeth Krajewski
Senior Director of Policy and Partnerships
Katie attended Southern California College of Business and Law, where she earned her AA degree in paralegal studies. She has 18 years of experience as an Executive Assistant. She excels in organization, problem-solving, multi-tasking, and event planning. Her commitment and passion for helping others shine through!
Katie enjoys music of all genres and has an extensive and eclectic collection of vinyl records, CDs, and cassette tapes. Her favorite thing to do is to attend live concerts with her husband.
Rebecca Thomas is an experienced leader with 18 years in public education as a teacher, school leader, and advocate, dedicated to expanding opportunities for students and strengthening the organizations that serve them.
Rebecca began her career as a Teach For America corps member, teaching middle school English in Houston’s Alief Independent School District. She then joined YES Prep Public Schools, where, as Dean of Instruction, she coached teachers and staff and helped grow a new 6th–12th grade campus, culminating in 100% of the founding class earning college acceptances.
She went on to serve at the Texas Public Charter Schools Association, first as Vice President of Advocacy and then as Chief of Staff. There, she built a robust advocacy and communications team and led the development team in a funding diversification strategy spanning the organization’s 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and affiliated PAC.
Most recently, Rebecca served as a consultant with the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and PLT Strategies, partnering with state charter associations across the country to help their leaders grow, strengthen, and build organizational capacity. That work led her to Washington state, where the board of directors selected her as interim executive director of the Washington State Charter Schools Association – bringing her keen understanding of thriving public schools, advocacy and politics, and what makes a high-quality state charter association.
Rebecca earned her B.A. in Political Science with honors from The University of Texas at San Antonio and a master’s degree in Political Science from Eastern Illinois University. Outside of work, she enjoys reading and playing family games with her two children.
Jamilah lives in Seattle and has spent her career using storytelling as a tool to advance equity, strengthen communities, and make complex policy issues accessible. Raised in a family that valued education and advocacy, she learned early on the power of clear communication and collective action—values that have shaped her work ever since.
Before joining WA Charters, she led communications at the Equity in Education Center and at the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments. Prior to her work in education, Jamilah served as the Digital Communications Manager at Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest & Hawai‘i, where she developed multi-state advocacy campaigns, rapid-response messaging, and community-centered digital strategies during critical legislative moments.
Jamilah earned her degree in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Washington. During her time on campus, she served as the ASUW Women’s Action Commission Director and played on the UW Women’s Rugby team, formative experiences that shaped her leadership, grit, and commitment to collaboration.
Deeply committed to reproductive and social justice, Jamilah is a former Commissioner on the Seattle Women’s Commission and Board Chair for Sustainable Seattle. She currently serves on the Planned Parenthood Votes Washington PAC.
In her spare time, she’s usually spoiling her cats, gardening, trying new restaurants with her husband, or making (and eating) ice cream.
Before joining WA Charters, Amy gained 14 years of experience in statewide nonprofit advocacy, legislative communications, political campaigns, and research, giving her a unique perspective on how storytelling, relationships, and strategic engagement can advance lasting policy change.
Amy holds a Master’s degree in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master’s degree in International Education from the Universidad de Alcalá in Spain, and a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Southern Methodist University.
Outside of work, Amy loves exploring the outdoors, discovering live music, traveling, and searching for unique vintage treasures.
Jesse is an experienced legislative advocacy professional with 18 years of experience in education policy, spanning roles as a government relations professional, Senate staffer, and public-school teacher.
Jesse began his career as a Senate intern more than 20 years ago before spending three years teaching high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses in Washington State. He then returned to the Senate, serving on the staff of the Senate Majority Leader and working on education and budget issues.
After more than five years in the Senate Majority Leader’s Office, Jesse transitioned to full-time legislative advocacy, representing education interests and advocating for key education and budget priorities, including Career and Technical Education.
Jesse lives in Yelm, Washington, with his wife and two children. Outside of work, they enjoy youth sports, fishing, hiking, and working on their hobby farm, where they raise cows, goats, chickens, and fruit trees.
Elizabeth specializes in aligning public policy objectives with impactful community outcomes. Grounded in research-backed strategies and data-driven insights, she builds robust organizational infrastructure that advances educational equity and operational success. Recognized for her strategic vision, Elizabeth excels at transforming complex policy frameworks into actionable, sustainable initiatives that strengthen internal coordination and elevate organizational reach.
With a deep background in public policy, educational research, and higher education, Elizabeth previously served as an assistant program director and adjunct professor at Jacksonville University. She brings extensive experience in cultivating strong, multi-stakeholder relationships across diverse leadership spaces. Grounded in economics, public policy, and law, Elizabeth continuously seeks collaborative solutions to address pressing challenges in education.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her son, supporting her favorite sports teams, and exploring the practical applications of emerging technology in public policy and governance.