Gov. Chris Gregoire recently announced the appointment of Adie Simmons as Director of Washington’s new Office of Education Ombudsman. The office, which was authorized by Legislature this year, will work within the Office of the Governor and serve as "an independent resource for information on community and parental involvement" related to the state’s K-12 education standards and programs.

A recipient of four PTA Golden Acorn Awards and a National Partnership District Award from Johns Hopkins University, Simmons most recently managed the Office of Family and Community Partnerships for Seattle Public Schools, where she helped the district overcome obstacles to family and community involvement.

Gregoire also announced the appointment of Jone M. Bosworth as Director of the Department of Early Learning. Bosworth is the first director of the department, which was created by the Legislature this year at the governor’s request.

Bosworth most recently served as Senior Director of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative in St. Louis, where she supported partnerships with public and private non-profits to create enhanced opportunities for young people aging out of foster care systems.