Board of Trustees

Sally (Peterson) Atherton ’66 joined the Annie Wright Schools Board of Trustees in 2017. After attending Annie Wright from 1952-66, she received her BA (Colby College), her MS (Trinity University, San Antonio), and her PhD (University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio). During her career, she studied herpesvirus infections of the eye and brain at universities in Florida, Texas, and Georgia. In 2014, she became Senior Associate at Health Research Associates to coach biomedical faculty on NIH grant writing skills. Sally is also Professor and Chair Emerita at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.

Thomas Baker, Ph.D. mathematician, joined the Annie Wright Schools Board of Trustees in 2023 where he serves on the finance committee. Tom was the Operations Research Coordinator for Exxon before starting Chesapeake Decision Sciences, a successful software/consulting company in the supply chain arena. Upon the sale of Chesapeake, Tom established a charitable foundation focused on providing funding and counseling for inner city students wishing to enter college-track programs. An avid sailor, Tom has logged 60,000 miles. Tom’s daughter, Josephine, is a Grade 9 student at Annie Wright. 

Amber English is the President of Digital and Online at The Estée Lauder Companies, where she has led transformative digital initiatives for the past three years. In her role, she oversees the global digital strategy, e-commerce growth, and technology innovation across the company’s prestigious portfolio of beauty brands. Prior to joining Estée Lauder, Amber spent 14 years at Amazon, where she held various leadership roles across business units and technology teams, helping to shape and scale some of the company’s most impactful digital platforms. Her earlier career included roles in the fashion industry with Gap Inc. and Giorgio Armani, blending her passion for design and commerce. Amber is also a committed advocate for diversity in technology and currently serves as the Executive Sponsor of Women in Tech at Estée Lauder Companies, where she champions initiatives to support and advance women in technical and digital roles. She studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and now lives in Gig Harbor, Washington, with her husband, Michael, and their two children, Harper and Hudson, who attend Annie Wright Schools.

 

CC joined the Annie Wright board in 2023. CC began her career in the tech sector, later transitioning to non-profit work to better fulfill her purpose and passion. She moved from working in nonprofits to the funding side to increase her impact and was the first Director of Programs and Strategic Initiatives at Satterberg Foundation, whose mission focuses on promoting a just society and sustainable environment. In 2021, CC left Satterberg Foundation and started Black Ivy Collective, which provides consulting services in the philanthropic sector and provides healing spaces for scholars, artists, and social justice advocates in the community. CC has always enjoyed showing up at school and embarrassing her kids, while serving and contributing to the school community in the process. She has served on the boards of Giddens School board and The Bush School board. Seeing our children thrive in schools ignites a passion in CC to serve.  She's seen that first hand at Annie Wright with her daughter, Christian, who boarded at Annie Wright since 2021. Christian graduated from Annie Wright School in 2025. CC's other board service includes Andrus Family Fund, Charlotte Martin Foundation,  EPIP (Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy), and Grist. CC lives in Detroit, MI, with deep roots in Seattle, WA. 

Martha Lantz joined the Annie Wright Schools Board of Trustees in 2020. She is an attorney with more than 30 years of public sector experience, initially with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office and, since 2009, as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Tacoma. Martha has served as a Board Member and volunteer for many local organizations, including the Grand Cinema, the Tacoma Pierce County YWCA, the Greater Metro Parks Foundation, and the Annie Wright Schools Parents’ Association and as an elected member of the Pierce County Charter Review Commission in 2016. She and her husband Andy Fitz have two children, Owen Fitz ’12MS and Allison Fitz ’19. Annie Wright has been instrumental to the growth and development of her children and Martha is excited to continue in the AWS community as a member of the Board.

With nearly 25 years in education across Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Washington, Suzanne has extensive experience in consulting, teaching, coaching, and leadership, including over 20 years in independent schools. Since 2017, Suzanne has been the head of Hyla School, a 6-12 school on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Founded in 1993, Hyla is known for its student-centered approach, experiential learning, and a strong, vibrant culture and community. 

Before leading Hyla, Suzanne was the Assistant Head of School at the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle for nine years, following her tenure in Kauai, Hawaii, where she worked as a teacher, coach, and Athletic Director.  At Hyla, Suzanne has led the school through several large strategic initiatives, including a capital campaign, campus-wide renovation and building project, and an expansion to an upper school division, including the acquisition and renovation of a second campus. At JDS, she led a school-wide curriculum and pedagogical redesign to an inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning—an approach still in place and thriving today. No matter the initiative, what remains her most important work is Suzanne’s dedication to school mission and the essential role of culture. Suzanne works to cultivate and strengthen the practices that foster inclusivity, community, and belonging, alongside engaging academic programs where students can thrive. 

 

Suzanne is also deeply engaged in association and volunteer work in the field of education. With a longstanding appreciation for NWAIS—its mission, values, and people—she has served as a governor on the NWAIS Board since 2022, currently chairs the Accreditation Committee, and will begin her term as Vice President/President-Elect of the Board of Governors on July 1, 2025. In addition, Suzanne contributes to the association through service on accreditation teams, both the Board Operations and Standards & Practices Committees, and recently on the NWAIS Executive Director Search Committee. Suzanne is honored to contribute to NWAIS’s mission and values and is inspired by the association’s commitment to continuous improvement in support of the diverse independent schools that are at its core. She is thrilled for the opportunity to serve on the Board of Trustees at Annie Wright Schools—an institution well respected for its outstanding work on behalf of students. 

 

Outside of her work in schools, Suzanne loves outdoor adventures from trees and trails to the snow and sea, and enjoys taking big leaps into water!

Kyra Mungia joined the Annie Wright Schools Board of Trustees in 2024. A proud Yellow Tie from the Class of ’09, Kyra currently serves as COO of the Oakland Fund for Public Innovation, a civic nonprofit unlocking resources and advancing bold, practical solutions for Oakland. She previously co-founded and led Rooted (formerly TRiO Plus), a nonprofit tackling housing affordability for educators, which merged with OFPI to expand impact and infrastructure. Her career has spanned the classroom, the Oakland Mayor’s Office (as Deputy Director of Education), and the school board. Kyra holds a BA from Brown University and an MA from Loyola Marymount. She’s a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Roddenberry Fellow, and a firm believer that every student deserves access to an excellent education. As a lifer herself, Kyra's connection to Annie Wright runs deep. Both her brothers attended through Grade 8, her younger sister graduated in 2025, and her nephew is entering Grade 3.

Alana is a technical advisor with the Federal Aviation Administration. A prior U.S. Air Force Air Traffic Controller, she received her BA from the University of Washington, her MSc. from the University of Oxford, and MSc. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She and her husband, Jared Zautner, currently have three children at Annie Wright and are passionate about building and engaging communities. An avid soccer player, rower and sailor, you’ll find Alana and family enjoying the beautiful outdoors & Puget Sound most days…