About Carol
Carol Rava is a dedicated Seattle Public Schools’ parent of nearly two decades. As the mother of children who have attended a wide range of Seattle Public Schools in southeast District 7 and other Seattle neighborhoods, Carol has first-hand knowledge of the district's strengths and challenges from both a parent's and as an education leader’s perspective.
Experience That Makes a Difference
Carol brings more than 25 years of professional expertise in education policy, data analysis, and strategic communications— skills that align with the needs and responsibilities of the Seattle School Board right now.
Education & Professional Background
Carol’s career includes her current role serving as Vice President - Education Grantmaking at Ascendium, a foundation focused on increasing the number of low-income learners receiving a postsecondary credential or workforce certificate that leads to upward mobility. The foundation focuses on populations furthest from educational justice. Prior to this role, she led advocacy and operations for the Postsecondary Commission, a new accreditor of colleges that provide economic mobility.
As Co-founder and Deputy Director of the national nonprofit Get Schooled, she developed a free digital college-career counseling platform that has supported more than 1 million low-income students.
From 2008-2010, Carol served as Executive Director of Strategic Planning for Seattle Public Schools, where she oversaw districtwide strategic planning, goal-setting and measurement, including extensive stakeholder engagement.
Carol's leadership roles during eight years at the Gates Foundation included managing communications for the K-12 education team, and building out the foundation’s state advocacy work. She also served as CEO of the Technology Alliance, an organization that supports Washington’s innovation economy.
Carol earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Religion from Harvard University and a Master's degree in Education Policy from Stanford University, where she developed her knowledge of education policy. She is currently enrolled in a Certificate in K12 Finance course through Georgetown University’s Edunomics Center.
She served on the John Muir Elementary School PTSA for years, including as treasurer, and was an active volunteer - including serving as president - with the nonprofit, Powerful Schools.
She lives in the Mount Baker neighborhood with her husband, Steve, their teenage and young adult children (when they come home to visit!), and their dog Moose.
