Executive Team

Dr. Greg Baker became superintendent of Bellingham Public Schools in July 2010. During his first year, he prioritized partnering with staff, students, families and our community to develop The Bellingham Promise, a living document serving as the district’s strategic plan, a plan that continues to guide the work of our school district every day.

In recognition of his outstanding leadership, Dr. Baker was named the 2020 Washington State Superintendent of the Year by the Washington Association of School Administrators. He was also awarded the 2014 Washington state Crystal Apple Award, in recognition of his commitment to inclusive and transparent communications and The Bellingham Promise.

Prior to leading in Bellingham, he served as a deputy superintendent for Portland Public Schools, as an intern and special assistant to the superintendent of Boston Public Schools and as an administrator for Spokane Public Schools. He began his career in Alaska as a teacher and assistant coach. Dr. Baker earned his doctorate from Harvard University; a master’s degree in administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University; a master’s degree in secondary education from Western Washington University; and a bachelor’s degree with distinction from Gonzaga University. He and his wife live in Bellingham with their three children, who attend or are alumni of Bellingham Public Schools.

Marty Atkins is an executive director of teaching and learning, supporting student services and schools. He served as the principal of Bellingham High School (BHS) from 2021 to 2025. Marty was an assistant principal at Squalicum High School for two years and served as an assistant principal at Sehome High School for three years. He taught and coached at Bellingham, Sehome and Mount Vernon high schools and in Hawaii, Nepal, Tunisia and Singapore.

Marty has a bachelor’s degree in education in mathematics and chemistry, a master’s degree in science education from Western Washington University (WWU), and a principal certification from WWU. Marty and his family have lived in the Bellingham area for most of their lives. He has three brothers who graduated from BHS, three children who attended Columbia Elementary, Whatcom Middle, and graduated from BHS. He has four grandchildren who attend Bellingham Public Schools.

Jacqueline Brawley was hired as the executive director of communications and community relations in March 2018, after serving as the communications manager, then director, for five years with Bellingham Public Schools. Brawley graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. She worked at KGMI for eight years as a news reporter, morning anchor and later as a program director. Brawley then worked as the director of marketing for Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism for three years. Brawley and her husband live in Bellingham with their two children.

Dr. Mike Copland joined Bellingham Public Schools in the summer of 2013 to serve as deputy superintendent of teaching and learning. He began his teaching career at Whatcom Middle School, later becoming assistant principal there and went on to lead Shuksan and Fairhaven middle schools as principal during the 1990s.

Dr. Copland served as a lead senior program officer on the U.S. team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation prior to returning to Bellingham. Copland previously served as associate professor and chair of the area of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Washington College of Education, and directed the Leadership for Learning doctorate program there. Earlier, Copland served as a faculty member and director of the Prospective Principals Program at Stanford University.

He graduated from Bellingham High School, and earned his bachelor’s degree in music and master’s degree in school administration, both from Western Washington University. His doctorate is from Stanford University. He and his wife, Brenda, also a Bellingham native and graduate of Bellingham High and WWU, have three grown children.

Arionda Feeney was hired as the executive director of human resources in July 2022. Previously, Ari served as principal at Carl Cozier since 2018. Prior to her principalship, she taught at Wade King Elementary and served as a dean at Silver Beach Elementary. Before joining Bellingham Public Schools in 2015, Ari taught at St. Paul’s Academy in Bellingham and Kealakehe Elementary School in Hawaii. She was an elementary principal at Westside School in Seattle from 2013 to 2015. Ari has a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science, and master’s degree of education from Western Washington University. She is nationally board certified in literacy and received her administrative certification in 2012. Before going into education, Ari worked as a paralegal for seven years at two different law firms in Seattle and Bellingham.

Kurt Gazow was hired as executive director of educational technology in January 2014. He previously worked for Evergreen Public Schools in Vancouver, Wash. as the manager of information technology, a senior leadership position for the fifth largest school district in Washington state. He worked for Evergreen from 2005 until he joined Bellingham Public Schools. In Evergreen, he was known for using his leadership in information technology to facilitate the creativity and success of students and staff. From 1999-2005, he was technology director for the Camas School District. Previously, he worked as Academic Cooperative program manager for Microsoft. Gazow has his bachelor's degree from the University of Washington.

Katie Jones is an executive director of teaching and learning, supporting student services and schools. She served as principal of Options High School from 2021 to 2025. Prior to Options, she was an assistant principal and dean of students at Squalicum High School. She taught at Squalicum, Ferndale and Windward high schools.

Katie has a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University and a master’s degree in education from Western Washington University. She earned her administrative certificate from WWU in 2017. Katie lives in Bellingham with her husband and is a parent of three children—one a graduate of our schools and two currently attending.

Isabel Meaker arrived in Bellingham Public Schools in 2009 as an AmeriCorps volunteer working as a diversity specialist with Woodring College of Education. In 2011, Meaker was hired as the special assistant to the superintendent for family engagement. In 2019, she became the executive director of family engagement. Meaker has a bachelor's degree in business from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Western Washington University.

Jessica Sankey was hired as the executive director of operations in April 2020. Previously she served as our district’s director of wellness since 2015. Sankey is known and respected in many of our schools both in her wellness director role and in her former positions as coordinator of the Whatcom Early Learning Alliance and coordinator of our Farm-to-School Advisory Group. She’s worked in many areas in our community, including the planning and administering of a Pediatric Obesity Task Force from 2007 to 2009. She has a master’s degree in public health from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s from Northwestern University. Sankey also has children in our schools.

Kathryn Weilage was hired as chief financial officer in December 2022. Kathryn has been with Bellingham Publics Schools since 2001. She has held several positions in the finance department, including director of business services for seven years. During her tenure with finance, Kathryn worked closely with the executive team facilitating the development of the annual budget for all operating and capital improvement funds. In 2019, she took on a new role in the department of educational technology as data systems project manager, where she was supervisor of student information responsible for enrollment and Skyward support. Kathryn earned her bachelor's degree while living and studying in London.

Matt Whitten was hired as the assistant superintendent of human resources in July 2022. Matt served as the principal of Shuksan Middle School and as principal of Birchwood and Geneva elementary schools over the last 11 years. Prior to coming to Bellingham Public Schools, he was the principal of Concrete Elementary School (K-8) and worked as a program support specialist in Arlington. He started his career as a physical education specialist in 2002. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Pacific Lutheran University and his master’s degree in educational leadership and principal certification from City University.