History

Summer Search Seattle opened in September of 2003 under the leadership of Executive Director, Mia Ellis, and Board Chair, Cecile Delafield. Since then, the program has grown to serve 101 students in 2009. The Seattle office has a staff of eight and an Local Site board of eleven. Students come from the Seattle, Bellevue, Shoreline, Lake Washington, Tukwila, and Highline School Districts. Our goal is to grow to serve 250 students annually by 2013 with a 16-20 member Local Board.

Staff

Mia Ellis, Executive Director
Deidre McCormack, Associate Director
Jennifer Hahn McCoy, Program Director
Amy Tran Russell, Director of Outreach
Helen Kwon, Program Associate
David Manchester, Program Associate
Rebecca Sullivan, Program Associate
Alexandra Wakeman, Program Associate
Sarah Warren, Development and Operations Associate

Mia Ellis, Executive Director
Mia is a northwest native, born and raised in Bellingham, WA. She attended the University of Colorado, in Boulder, and graduated in 1997 with a degree in Interpersonal Communication. During college, Mia attended a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) wilderness course, and her passion for experiential education was born. After college, she worked for NOLS in Wyoming and Alaska, and then for Deer Hill Expeditions, a wilderness leadership program, in Colorado. At Deer Hill, Mia was the Program Manager and a Field Leader and worked with many Summer Search students. Mia joined Summer Search as the Executive Director of the Seattle program in September 2003.

Deidre McCormack, Associate Director
Deidre is originally from California, where she attended Santa Clara University and received her B.A. in History and Ancient Studies. In search of her life work, she moved to Seattle in 1999 and joined an AmeriCorps program called City Year. Her City Year placement was in a high-need elementary school where she learned about the inequities in our educational system and society and her passion for serving at-risk youth was born. Deidre’s experience is in non-profit development, program management and organizational development.  She joined Summer Search in September 2008. She oversees the program and operations and is integral in fundraising for the organization. Deidre lives in West Seattle with her husband and daughter.

Jennifer Hahn McCoy, Program Director
Originally from Texas, Jennifer taught social studies in Austin before moving to Seattle to attend graduate school at the University of Washington. She earned her master's degree in Education, traveled and taught in Mexico and worked as a college adviser at Chief Sealth High School in Seattle for six years. She first met Summer Search as a Referral Partner, nominating students for the program, and joined the staff in March of 2005. As Program Director, Jennifer manages the day-to-day aspects of our work with students, including mentoring, summer programs, college access and alumni support.

Amy Tran Russell, Director of Outreach
Amy was born and raised in San Francisco, California, with the exception of two years spent in Texas. She graduated from the University of California Davis with a Bachelor’s degree in History and also holds a Masters degree in Education from the University of California Santa Cruz. Following eleven years of participation in track and field, Amy has been coaching long and triple jumpers at various programs over the past few years. Amy is a former middle school history teacher and is currently mentoring students and leading outreach efforts in Seattle.

Helen Kwon, Program Associate
Helen is originally from Seattle, WA, but spent several years on the east coast before returning to Washington. She graduated from Wellesley College with a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Education. After college, Helen joined an AmeriCorps team in Washington where she served students and families through tutoring, running before- and after-school programs, and engaging the community in service projects. After she completed her AmeriCorps term, Helen taught in New York City and earned her Master's Degree in Education Policy and Management at Harvard University. She is thrilled to be a part of the Summer Search Seattle team!

David Manchester, Program Associate
David is originally from Kenmore, WA, but recently returned to the Puget Sound after living in New York City and the Bay Area.  He graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in History in 2003.  He received a master’s degree in International Education from New York University in 2007.  In New York, he led an academic program to reduce truancy for at-risk youth at Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx and worked as an educational consultant for the Vera Institute.  For the past two years, he was a special education teacher at Fremont High School in East Oakland, CA, as a member of the Oakland Teaching Fellows program.  David is excited to join the Summer Search team and to continue work empowering youth.

Rebecca Sullivan , Program Associate
Rebecca hails from Vancouver, WA, and recently returned to the Northwest after receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership and Dance from Chapman University in Orange County, California. Most recently, she has attended Seattle University, earning her Master's Degree in Student Development Administration, a program that reinforced her commitment to making educational attainment accessible to all young students. While at SU, Rebecca worked with New Student and Family Programs, helping coordinate summer orientation and new student orientation. Rebecca continues to enjoy dancing with Chimera Dance Theatre and teaching dance at Garfield Community Center.

Alexandra Wakeman, Program Associate
Alex grew up in Texas and Washington, settling in Seattle and into the Seattle Public Schools at the age of nine. After graduating from Ballard High School, she attended Pomona College where she was active in student government and varsity sports. In 2006, she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy Analysis and Politics, focusing her studies on educational policy and reform. After college, she spent the next two years teaching high school in the Mississippi Delta through Teach for America. During her time as a teacher, she also coached cross country, advised student groups and volunteered with a girl’s empowerment organization. Having recently relocated to her hometown of Seattle, Alex joined Summer Search in June of 2008.  She enjoys assisting with outreach efforts, and working with students to help them develop into insightful, confident and altruistic leaders.

Sarah Warren, Development and Operations Associate
A native of the East coast, Sarah grew up in the small ski resort town of Manchester, VT. After attending Burr and Burton Seminary, she took a year off before leaving the green mountains for Boston, MA. She attended Suffolk University and graduated with a double major in Art History and American History, with a Women’s Studies minor. Sarah returned to Vermont after college and put her degree to work at two local non-profit organizations. She moved to First Hill in Seattle with her dog in May of 2008 to build upon her career in development and return to city life.  Sarah is grateful to be working for such a unique and exceptional organization like Summer Search.