Bellevue School Board names new member

The Bellevue School Board named its newest member Tuesday, choosing the executive director of an education non-profit.

Christine Chew is a Bellevue parent and school volunteer who says she wants to ensure every community member has access to a quality education.

“I am honored by this opportunity to serve our community,” Chew said at the meeting. “Bellevue schools have a strong foundation we can build on as the district strives to fulfill its mission to provide a top of the line program that reaches all students.”

The other finalist, Sharon Taubel, is also a parent and volunteer in the district. Chew was sworn in Tuesday by Superintendent Amalia Curdeiro and took her place on the board to participate in the meeting.

Chew is the executive director of College Access Now, a non-profit which partners with the public schools in Seattle to guide students in their preparation for college. Chew is also a former high school science teacher and pursuing her doctorate at the University of Washington in science education.

In addition to her career in education, Chew is a former software program manager at Microsoft. She has two children ages six and 12 currently attending schools in the Bellevue public school system.

Chew identifies several issues within the district she would like to focus on, including: working to reach a broader range of students; building on the professional community of teachers; and ensuring that district priorities and accountability evolve in a measurable and meaningful way.

Chew replaces former board member Peter Bentley who resigned from the board earlier this year.

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