Janel Keating

Janel Keating Hambly is superintendent of the White River School District in the state of Washington. An accomplished educator with more than 35 years of experience, she is a former elementary and middle school teacher, elementary principal, director of student learning, and deputy superintendent. For eight years, Janel was principal of Mountain Meadow Elementary School. During her time there, Mountain Meadow was recognized as one of the state's highest academically performing elementary schools.

Janel has been named Principal of the Year in Pierce County, Washington, and was a recipient of the 2013 Carroll College Alumni Academic Achievement Award. Janel recipient of the 2019 Robert Handy Award for the most effective administrator in Washington State.

Janel has written four books and numerous articles on leadership and school improvement. She co-authored (with Robert Eaker) the lead chapter in the 2012 Yearbook of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Janel is currently partnering with WASA (Washington Association of School Administrators) and Solution Tree on the WASA-PLC Project. This project is ensuring academic equity in nearly 20 school districts by:

· Implementing a guaranteed and viable curriculum

· Creating a timely and balanced assessment system districtwide

· Removing barriers by implementing additional time, support, and extensions for all students

· Addressing equity issues through standards-based reporting and grading practices districtwide

· Building an inclusive and healthy district and school culture

· Operationalizing the concepts and practices of a Professional Learning Community—from the boardroom to the classroom—as a vehicle to improve leadership and the professional practice of all adults in an effort for all students to learn at higher levels.

She presents at state and national events. Janel is past president of the Washington State Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

She earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Idaho and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Carroll College in Montana. Janel received a superintendent’s certificate from Seattle Pacific University.