Adie Simmons has devoted her career to the education and well-being of children and families. She has worked in the field of family and community engagement in public education for nearly 25 years. In 2006, Mrs. Simmons was appointed by Governor Chris Gregoire to develop and direct the Governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds (OEO), a state agency dedicated to resolving conflict between families and schools, and promoting family engagement in education.

During her tenure as the State Education Ombuds, she heard from thousands of educators and families of students who were falling behind academically and at risk of dropping out of school, the majority of which were of color. As a result, she worked with state legislators to introduce and pass state laws to remove barriers, and improve access to educational opportunities for diverse students and increase the participation of parents in schools.

In 2014, she left state government to realize her dream of funding a state-wide nonprofit organization dedicated to building the capacity of schools, and diverse families to work as equal partners to support student achievement. Mrs. Simmons is currently the founder and Executive Director of Washington Family Engagement, and a leadership instructor at Everett Community College, providing technical assistance to educators across the state and training parents to become school and community leaders.

She has authored publications, articles, and training programs for parents and educators. She is a recognized educator, public speaker, and university guest lecturer. She is a tireless community volunteer who has served on numerous boards, councils, and committees, and received several awards, including four PTA Golden Acorns, the 2011 Puget Sound ESD’s Crystal Apple Award, and the 1997 Governor’s Washington State Excellence in Education Award, all recognizing her contributions to public education.