TCSRA Elected Officers, 2022-2023
Left to right, top row: Sue Shannon, Patty Gee, and Will Gentz.
Second row: ZiNita Carrell and Pat Slosson.
Sue Shannon, President: Sue served a total of 44 years in Washington public school districts, including her last years at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. After teaching in Longview and in Ellensburg, she came to North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS), where she began as an English teacher and assistant principal at Timberline High School. Her next positions were as an assistant superintendent for planning and construction at NTPS, as an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at ESD 113, and as a director of learning and education policy at WEA. Sue has a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, and a doctorate. She was one of the founders of the North Thurston Education Foundation and served as volunteer executive director from 1989 to 2016. A member of TCSRA for many years, Sue was president-elect in 2021–’22. She also served one year as chair of the Finance Committee, was the TCSRA nominee for the Stan McNaughton Outreach Award in 2017 in recognition of her community volunteer work, and recently served on the nominating committee. Sue’s late husband, Jim, was also a teacher and coach in North Thurston Public Schools. She has one son. Sue enjoys traveling, reading, music, and spending time with family and friends.
Vice President: Open position.
Patty Gee, Secretary: After 20 years with North Thurston Public Schools, Patty went on sabbatical to earn her master’s degree at Central Washington University (CWU). Meanwhile, her husband was called to Tokyo, Japan, as a Christian missionary. Patty followed and was able to do research comparing Japan’s early childhood programs to ours for her master’s degree thesis. After three years in Japan as ministers of a Christian Mission Church, they returned, and Patty finished her Master’s in School Administration at CWU and then worked in several districts—Toppenish, Shelton, Steilacoom, and Griffin—as a speech language pathologist. At this point, she retired and realized a life goal by opening her “Open Door Autism Clinic” in Olympia. She directly provided the therapy for autism communication and social skills, and her husband, Jerome, was the Executive Director. As a volunteer, Patty has been President/Executive Director of the Autism Society of Washington, secretary for the North Thurston Education Association, secretary for several church boards and councils, and secretary/board member of the Regional Women of the Lutheran Church of America. Patty now has the time and desire to become the secretary of TCSRA, and she looks forward to reconnecting with her fellow teachers and support service colleagues.
Will Gentz, Fiscal Treasurer: Will is now serving his third term as TCSRA fiscal treasurer. He was born in and did his early years’ learning, playing, and working in Illinois. He attended Illinois State University after which he played in the dirt, doing landscaping and working union construction jobs. After nearly a year of traveling, he settled in Boulder, Colorado, cooking in restaurants for seven years. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and spent two years substitute teaching and coaching in the high school where he had student taught. He then taught for seven years in Spokane, WA, teaching middle school physical education and coaching. He earned his master’s degree from Gonzaga University, and then moved to Olympia, teaching high school math for the next 23 years in North Thurston Public Schools. Will loves traveling with his wife, hiking, sports—mostly watching these days—and being outdoors.
ZiNita Carrell, Membership Treasurer: ZiNita, now in her eleventh year as membership treasurer, is our education co-chair and is also in charge of luncheon notifications. ZiNita was born in Yakima, WA, and lived in Wapato for most of her childhood. Her father, Lorence Heikell, was principal of Wapato Intermediate School, and her mother taught in various elementary schools around the lower Yakima Valley. ZiNita graduated from East Valley High School in Moxee and later received her BA and MA from Central Washington University. She taught Title 1 and Chapter 1 reading and math for nearly all of her career in Eastern and Western Washington. She retired from Tacoma Public Schools and enjoys traveling with her husband, being a member of TCSRA, and writing education articles for Bits & Pieces.
Pat Slosson, Immediate Past President: Pat served three terms as TCSRA president, one year as our vice president/president-elect, and three years as our secretary. She has been membership chair and is currently editor of Bits & Pieces and co-editor of the directory. As an “Army Brat,” Pat attended seven schools before graduating from high school in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a BA in Education and later earned an MA from Lesley University. After working for Phoenix newspapers, she returned to Washington and taught for North Thurston Public Schools for 30 years. Pat taught English as well as acting as Dean of Students for 12 years. Pat enjoys reading, traveling with her husband, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
